Provision of support to trafficking victims following a negative conclusive grounds decision – Garden Court Chambers

‘In MN v SSHD [2020] EWCA Civ 1746 the Court of Appeal considered several linked cases brought by victims of trafficking who had received negative Conclusive Grounds decisions.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 17th February 2021

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Couple jailed for trafficking teens to sell drugs – BBC

‘A drug dealer and his care worker girlfriend have been jailed for trafficking teenagers to sell drugs for a county lines operation.’

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BBC News, 28th January 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Slavery survivors moved ‘without notice, without reason’ in London lockdown – The Guardian

‘Modern slavery survivors with young children were among refugees allegedly forced to move accommodation in London with as little as one day’s notice during coronavirus lockdowns this winter.’

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The Guardian, 29th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

People smugglers jailed for total of 78 years over deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants – The Independent

‘Four people-smugglers have been jailed for a total of 78 years over the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants, whose bodies were found in a lorry container in Essex in October 2019.’

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The Independent, 23rd January 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Proof, expert evidence and credibility in trafficking cases – EIN Blog

‘The Court of Appeal has decided that the two-stage procedure provided for by the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) to determine whether a person is a victim of human trafficking, involving an initial decision on whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person is a victim, and a subsequent conclusive decision made on the balance of probabilities, complies with the requirements of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings 2005 (ECAT), Directive 2011/36 and article 4 of the ECHR. Two appellants (MN, an Albanian national, and IXU, a Nigerian national) appealed against the dismissal of their judicial review applications of decisions made by Home Office decision-makers that they were not victims of trafficking for the purposes of the NRM. The NRM sets out a two-stage identification procedure to determine whether someone was a victim of trafficking. A “Competent Authority”, a part of the Home Office, determines whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person is a victim. Then, in light of further consideration/investigation, the Competent Authority makes a conclusive decision. Conclusively established trafficking victims are entitled to support under the NRM. Some, but not all, of that support is available also to potential victims identified at the first stage. The Competent Authority made reasonable grounds determinations in favour of both MN and IXU but made conclusive decisions against them. Farbey J (MN) and Mr Philip Mott QC (IXU) dismissed the judicial review claims at first instance.’

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EIN Blog, 21st January 2021

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Three victims of trafficking and modern slavery to sue Biffa – The Guardian

Posted January 14th, 2021 in forced labour, news, trafficking in human beings, victims, waste by tracey

‘Three victims of trafficking and modern slavery who were subcontracted to sort rubbish for the national waste and recycling firm Biffa Waste Services are to launch legal proceedings to sue the firm for damages.’

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The Guardian, 14th January 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

6 UK Human Rights Issues And Trends To Watch In 2021 – Each Other

‘It’s clear that coronavirus will inevitably continue to be one of the biggest rights issues of 2021 – but it’s not the only thing that should be on our radar. This selection of things to look out for – some quite specific and some more general – is by no means exhaustive and, as the last year has shown, there’s no way we can accurately predict the future. However, there are pressing issues on the horizon – here are just a few, in no particular order.’

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Each Other, 8th January 2021

Source: eachother.org.uk

Why The Sexual Exploitation Bill Will Make Vulnerable Women Less Safe – Each Other

‘Paying for sex could become a criminal offence in England and Wales if Parliament approves a new Bill which claims to protect women from sexual exploitation. But criminalisation will only further harm people who are already marginalised, argues Rachel Trafford.’

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Each Other, 17th December 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Migrant domestic abuse victims’ data must not be shared between police and Home Office, report warns – The Independent

‘Police and government must urgently introduce measures to stop police sharing domestic abuse victims’ immigration data with the Home Office, a major new report has warned.
Campaigners have routinely voiced fears women with unsettled immigration status who are suffering domestic violence are often too fearful to report the abuse due to fears police will share their data with the Home Office and they will face deportation.’

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The Independent, 17th December 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Jamaican nationals taken off charter flight in eleventh hour over trafficking concerns – The Independent

‘A number of Jamaican nationals who were due to be deported have been granted last minute reprieve after the Home Office acknowledged they may be victims of modern slavery. Thirteen people were forcibly removed from the UK to Jamaica in the early hours of Wednesday. At least 10 of those who had been due to fly were taken off the flight hours before it was due to leave following legal intervention.’

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The Independent, 2nd December 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Home Office ‘missed chance to stop rise in migrant boats’ – BBC News

‘The Home Office failed to stop a rise in migrant boats crossing the English Channel before it was too late, an independent inspector has said.’

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BBC News, 11th November 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Prosecution of trafficking victim not an abuse of process – UK Human Rights Blog

‘R v A [2020] EWCA Crim 1408. On 29/10/2020, the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal against an aggravated burglary conviction brought by a teenage victim of human trafficking.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 2nd November 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

What Should Reparations For Slavery Look Like? – Each Other

‘The debate around reparations for colonialism and slavery has often been an explosive one. It is often dismissed as far removed from reality, relating to events in the distant past. But the legacy and consequences of colonialism are material, living, and breathing – which makes debates around colonial restitution as relevant now as they have ever been, argues Nadine Batchelor-Hunt.’

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Each Other, 22nd October 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Asylum seekers launch legal challenge against their removal from UK – The Guardian

Posted August 11th, 2020 in asylum, deportation, judicial review, news, trafficking in human beings by sally

‘A group of asylum seekers due to be flown out of the UK this week in a Home Office operation targeting people who arrived on small boats have launched a mass legal challenge to their removal, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 11th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

British trafficking victim sues Priti Patel alleging abuse of personal data – The Guardian

‘A British victim of trafficking is bringing a case against the home secretary, Priti Patel, arguing that her department unlawfully accessed personal information including details of her intimate thoughts.’

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The Guardian, 30th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Judges quash decision not to prosecute diplomat over alleged trafficking – The Guardian

‘A woman who says it seems the Crown Prosecution Service did not consider her “trafficked enough” after being brought into the UK by a diplomat from the United Arab Emirates is celebrating after a high court ruling quashed a decision not to prosecute him.’

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The Guardian, 9th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Home Office increases support for trafficking victims after lawyers argue rates are ‘discriminatory’ – The Independent

‘The Home Office has increased support for suspected modern slavery victims after facing a legal challenge claimed the current levels were discriminatory and left vulnerable mothers unable to afford basic essentials.’

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The Independent, 1st July 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

ABE 2016/19 has gone AWOL – Counsel

‘Shortcomings and legal anachronisms: how can we achieve best evidence if current guidance is dangerously out of date on the law on special measures? asks Laura Hoyano.’

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Counsel, May 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

How The UK Could Be Failing Migrant Modern Slavery Victims – And What We Can Do About It – Each Other

‘The UK’s modern slavery framework was almost five times less likely to recognise victims from non-European countries than those from Britain last year, . This is despite the fact that many of the top countries for human trafficking are outside Europe. Maya Esslemont examines ways we can ensure victims do not slip through the net and miss out on vital support.’

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Each Other, 15th April 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Number of potential modern slavery victims in UK rises by 52% – The Guardian

Posted April 3rd, 2020 in forced labour, news, statistics, trafficking in human beings by sally

‘The number of potential modern slavery victims identified in the UK has risen by 52% in a year to a record high, official figures have revealed.’

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The Guardian, 2nd April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com