When Victims of Modern Slavery Became Offenders: The Unravelling of the UK’s Modern Slavery Agenda – Journal of Human Trafficking

Posted March 14th, 2024 in defences, duress, forced labour, news, trafficking in human beings, victims by sally

‘While victims of trafficking who commit crimes have a defense in law in England and Wales, this has not been without controversy in the courts and is increasingly threatened in practice as British government ministers heap suspicion on those formally seeking recognition as victims of modern slavery. In the first part of this article, we review recent criminal cases decided by the Court of Appeal in England and Wales to explore why it is that some victims of trafficking break the law. These cases reveal the impossible choices that constitute the nexus of circumstances that lead victims to offend. In the second part of this article, we examine the cases of three people convicted of modern slavery and allied immigration crimes that are excluded from the statutory defense in English and Welsh law to show how morally comprehensible the commission of serious crimes can be in the aftermath of exploitation, destitution and trauma. We conclude by urging academics and activists in the modern slavery field to be vocal about how few victims fit their stereotypes and to help articulate the irreconcilably difficult choices that explain why some break the law in immigration contexts that are overtly hostile toward them.’

Full Story

Jounal of Human Trafficking, 27th February 2024

Source: www.tandfonline.com

Luton drug dealers jailed for modern slavery offence – BBC News

‘Two men who sent a vulnerable teenager more than 100 miles from his home to sell Class A drugs have been jailed.’

Full Story

BBC News, 23rd February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Asylum seeker with home-made boat sentenced after four migrants die in Channel – The Independent

‘An asylum seeker has been detained for nine years and six months for the manslaughter of fellow migrants who drowned trying to cross the English Channel.’

Full Story

The Independent, 23rd February 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK signs new deal with EU to tackle small boat crossings – BBC News

Posted February 23rd, 2024 in asylum, EC law, government departments, immigration, news, trafficking in human beings by michael

‘The UK has signed a new deal with the EU’s border agency to work more closely together to stop small boats crossing the English Channel.’

Full Story

BBC News, 23rd February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Shamima Begum loses appeal against removal of British citizenship – The Guardian

‘Shamima Begum, who left Britain as a schoolgirl to join Islamic State, has lost an appeal against the decision to remove her British citizenship.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 23rd February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lewis Graham: Paused Policies, Secret Policies and the Rule of Law: XY v Secretary of State for the Home Department – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘It is hard to think of a concept with a more contested definition in legal and political circles than “the rule of law”. The question of what content (if any) might be found within it (and indeed, what “it” even is – a political truth? A normative ideal? A mere slogan?) has been taken up, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, by first-year law students, wizened academics, campaigning groups and politicians. If it sometimes seems that a thicker, rights-laden understanding of the term has taken root, detractors are always quick to emerge, eager to remind us of what the rule of law is and what it is not. There is a real danger in piling too much upon the notion so as to distort the concept, which may cause us to lose sight of why the rule of law is uniquely important. At the very least, framing the rule of law narrowly helps ensure that an appropriate degree of opprobrium can be generated in those instances when it is, in fact, undermined.’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 22nd February 2024

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Ibrahima Bah: Dinghy pilot guilty over Channel migrant deaths – BBC News

Posted February 20th, 2024 in homicide, immigration, negligence, news, trafficking in human beings by tracey

‘A man who piloted a boat in the English Channel has been found guilty of the manslaughter of four migrants who drowned when it ran into difficulty.’

Full Story

BBC News, 19th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

People smuggler jailed for cramming migrants in van compartment – Home Office

‘A people smuggler has been jailed for cramming 7 migrants into a one-person sleeping compartment and brazenly trying to enter the UK.’

Full Story

Home Office, 16th February 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

Albanian man jailed for smuggling 12 migrants in North Sea crossing – Home Office

Posted February 6th, 2024 in guilty pleas, news, sentencing, trafficking in human beings by tracey

‘A people smuggler has been jailed after smuggling migrants, including a child, towards the UK.’

Full Story

Home Office, 5th February 2024

Source: www.gov.uk

Channel migrants: Man who piloted boat carrying 70 jailed – BBC News

Posted February 6th, 2024 in immigration, news, sentencing, trafficking in human beings by tracey

‘A man who piloted a boat carrying more than 70 migrants who were rescued off the Kent coast has been jailed.’

Full Story

BBC News, 5th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

High Court allows judicial review against council over failure to support child trafficking victim – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has ruled that the London Borough of Barnet failed to meet its duties towards a victim of child trafficking after he received no specialist support from either the council or the Home Office for several years.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 21st December 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Haulage boss jailed seven years for his role in people-smuggling network linked to Essex lorry deaths – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A haulage boss has been jailed today for his involvement in a people-smuggling network linked to the tragic deaths of 39 Vietnamese men, women and children in Essex.’

Full Story

Crown Prosecution Service, 30th November 2023

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

No more new investigations in Rotherham child abuse inquiry – BBC News

‘An inquiry into child abuse in Rotherham will not start any new investigations from next year, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.’

Full Story

BBC News, 28th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

People smugglers ordered to pay over £280,000 from criminal profits in the Essex lorry deaths case – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A convicted people smuggler, responsible for the manslaughter of 39 people who died in the back of a lorry in Essex, has today (24 September 2023) been ordered to pay a total of £65,157.65 to victims’ families through a Confiscation Order made by the court today.’

Full Story

Crown Prosecution Service, 24th November 2023

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Fixer for small-boat people smugglers jailed for seven and a half years – The Independent

‘An Albanian woman who acted as a fixer for people smugglers arranging small boat crossings to the UK has been jailed for seven and a half years, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.’

Full Story

The Independent, 19th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Shamima Begum faces wait for appeal decision in citizenship case – The Independent

‘Shamima Begum will face a wait to find out whether she has won a Court of Appeal bid over the removal of her British citizenship.’

Full Story

The Independent, 25th October 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Illegal Migration Bill: Welcomed by Human Traffickers – Mountford Chambers

Posted October 4th, 2023 in bills, chambers articles, immigration, news, trafficking in human beings by sally

‘Organised Crime poses an increasing problem around the world. Endangering the economic well-being of countries, it can pose national security threats and affect vulnerable communities. Anisha Kiri tracks recent developments.’

Full Story

Mountford Chambers, 8th September 2023

Source: www.mountfordchambers.com

Man who posed for selfies as he piloted small boat jailed – Home Office

‘An Egyptian man who posed for selfies while piloting a small boat with 50 migrants on board has been jailed for 3 years and 2 months.’

Full Story

Home Office, 6th September 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

UK cannot ignore calls for slavery reparations, says leading UN judge – The Guardian

‘A leading judge at the international court of justice has said the UK will no longer be able to ignore the growing calls for reparation for transatlantic slavery.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 22nd August 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Newport: Drugs gang jailed for exploiting vulnerable child – BBC News

‘The leader of drugs gang who recruited a vulnerable 15-year-old boy in a phone call from prison has been sentenced to nine years in jail.’

Full Story

BBC News, 21st August 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk