Written submission from the Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group (MSA0037)
Background:
Tackling Slavery is a not a devolved responsibility but much of the support for the consequences of slavery falls to devolved services. Tackling slavery requires co-ordinated action and cuts across the boundaries of the four Governments in the UK.
The response to slavery in Wales was bolstered by the appointment of a Welsh Government Anti-Slavery Co-ordinator. This post was created in 2010 in the Welsh Government ‘Programme for Government.’ The Welsh Government was the first and remains the only country in the UK to appoint an Anti-Slavery Co-ordinator.
We are working closely with key agencies in Wales, and across Welsh Government to determine the scale, types and location of slavery in Wales. This is helping to improve intelligence and recording of incidents in Wales, using the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), and increase cases within the Criminal Justice System.
Established in January 2013, the Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group provides strategic leadership which is essential to co-ordinate the identification and recovery of victims and to bring their perpetrators to justice. Our actions also include raising awareness to prevent this heinous crime happening in Wales.
Chaired by Bon Westcott, Head of the Community Safety Division of the Welsh Government, the Leadership Group brings together the leaders from the relevant partners in Wales from the Public, Private and the Third Sectors (for List of Members see Annex A).
The Leadership Group is in a unique position to add value by co-ordinating collaboration across partners to plan and support delivery in Wales, thereby maximising the opportunities for multi-agency solutions to tackle slavery.
The Leadership Group has four sub-groups:
The Wales Anti-Slavery Training Group
Wales Anti-Slavery Casework Review Group
Wales Threat Group for Modern Slavery which is aligned to the UK Threat Group for Modern Slavery
Wales Sex Worker Support Group
To co-ordinate the work of the Leadership Group we have established the Wales Anti-Slavery Operational Delivery Group which is chaired by the Strategic Objectives Lead (Kim Ann Williamson MBE the Community Inclusion and Engagement Manager, Crown Prosecution Service Cymru/Wales).
Regional Anti-Slavery Groups have been established to give coverage across Wales in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, Cwm Taf, Dyfed Powys, Gwent, Western Bay and North Wales. The Regional Anti-Slavery Groups are responsible for operational activity and report progress. They also have an information/intelligence sharing function. The membership of the Regional Anti Slavery Groups mirrors the Leadership Group with ‘local’ representation from the respective member organisations. See Annex B for the Wales Anti-Slavery Structure.
The Leadership Group has a Delivery Plan which sets out the key priorities for tackling slavery in Wales (Annex C) and is underpinned by governance and reporting arrangements for slavery in Wales (Annex D).
The delivery of this plan is dependent upon all partners playing their part. Within Wales there is a history of strong partnership working and this will be a critical success factor for ensuring the successful implementation of the plan.
Progress against this plan will be monitored through the Leadership Group meetings. Papers are commissioned in advance of each meeting and form part of the agenda and emanating actions are monitored and reported accordingly.
We share the learning from Wales with other partners including, UK Government Departments and with the UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, and we are starting to gain international recognition for our work on this agenda.
A key critical success factor of the Leadership Group is the strategic level of members and the joined up work with Police and Crime Commissioners.
Jeff Cuthbert is the Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner and represents the four Welsh Police and Crime Commissioner’s by being the lead on Modern Slavery for Wales on the Leadership Group. Commissioner Cuthbert is also a member of the National Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery Network (NATMSN) for England and Wales which is chaired by Mark Burns-Williamson, the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner.
Commissioner Cuthbert keeps both the Leadership Group and NATMSN updated on their respective activities which fosters and promotes the sharing of good practice.
Being the Wales Lead, Commissioner Cuthbert, has funded a number of conferences which have included addressing Tackling Transparency in Supply Chains, Labour Exploitation, Child Exploitation and ‘County Lines’ crime. He is also a keynote speaker at engagements which have included in January 2018 speaking at a joint event hosted by himself and an Assembly Member at the Senedd to address Welsh Government Ministers and Assembly Members on the awareness of slavery in Wales. Also he opened and gave the keynote speech at the ‘Workshop on Aviation and Hospitality’s to Combatting Modern Slavery’ held in April 2018 at the Principality Stadium Cardiff and attended by 300 delegates. This event was hosted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and was a first of its type for Wales, the UK and Europe by attracting UK and International speakers and delegates.
In early 2018, Commissioner Cuthbert together with Julian Williams the Chief Constable of Gwent Police and the Wales Policing Lead for Modern Slavery, for Gwent Police they established a dedicated Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Team. This Team are providing tactical support to Gwent Police Officers and raising awareness within the Force and to communities. As a result the numbers of NRMs and investigations have increased. Whilst it is too early to evaluate the work of the team, it is intended to carryout an evaluation after a year since its inception. Commissioner Cuthbert and Chief Constable Williams are currently engaged in negotiations with other Welsh Police Crime and Police Commissioners and Chief Constables to introduce dedicated teams within their jurisdictions with the aim of giving coverage across Wales.
In July 2018, Commissioner Cuthbert and the Welsh Government Anti-Slavery Co-ordinator gave a joint presentation to the NATMSN meeting in London on the Wales Anti-Slavery Structure and initiatives. Since this presentation we have received a number of requests for further information and visits from Police Forces in England.
The Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group regularly shares its experience with the Modern Slavery Unit and the Devolved Administrations of Northern Ireland and Scotland; and GRETA. We have hosted a number of delegations including from Albania, the Office of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), National Crime Agency,the Modern Slavery Police Transformation Programme and the Home Office Modern Slavery Unit..
In the research report by the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner and the University of Nottingham Rights Lab published in October 2017, ‘Collaborating for freedom – anti-slavery partnerships in the UK, the Leadership Group was identified to be good practice for its structure, governance and partnership working.
Link:
The current scale and nature of modern slavery:
The Home Office Chief Scientific Officer in 2014 estimated in the UK there were between 10,000 and 13,000 people being exploited in some form of slavery. This estimation was based on the 2013 UK National Referral Mechanism (NRM) Statistics.
In 2017 the National Crime Agency reported this figure was underestimated and probably over 100,000.
The Walk Free Foundation in 2018 published the Global Slavery Index and estimated there were 136,000 people in the UK being exploited in some form of slavery.
In the UK the only recorded statistical data available on slavery is the NRM Statistics published by the National Crime Agency.
Below are the NRM Statistics for Wales and as can be seen they have been increasing year-on-year:
2012 - 34
2013 - 50
2014 - 70
2015 - 134
2016 - 123
2017 - 193
For the first six months of 2018 there had been 116 NRM referrals.
Since 2012 the profile of the type of slavery has changed from in the main females (adult and children) being sexually exploited to the current profile of males (adults and children) being subject to labour exploitation.
The impact of the Modern Slavery Act 2015:
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 was welcomed in Wales and this legislation is being used widely to tackle the heinous crime and related aspects of slavery.
However, we have found Section 54 of the Act, Tackling Transparency in Supply Chains, limited in that it only places an obligation on ‘commercial organisations with a turnover of £36 million or more’ leaving no obligation on those below this threshold or on public sector organisations or NGOs.
To tackle transparency in supply chains on 9 March 2017 we launched the ‘Ethical Employment in Supply Chains – Code of Practice’ which is aimed at making supply chains transparent and preventing exploitation of workers. This is a first for Wales and the UK.
The Code of Practice covers the following employment issues:
Modern Slavery and human rights issues
Blacklisting
False self-employment
Unfair use of umbrella schemes and zero hours contracts
Paying the Living Wage
The Code of Practice links to Guidance Toolkits, a short DVD and E-learning.
We are working in partnership with TISCReport who have designed a ‘dashboard’ which provides management information and monitors progress.
The Code of Practice can be found at: www.gov.wales/code-of-practice
Sir David Metcalf the Director of Labour Market Enforcement cites the Code of Practice to be good practice in his Labour Market Enforcement Strategy 2018 – 2019 Report which was published in May 2018 (Page 90).
In Spring 2019 we will be having the Code of Practice academically evaluated and will be sharing the learning.
Another impact of the Act is that Wales is one of three Home Office funded Early Adapter areas for the Independent Child Trafficking Advocates Programme. The other programme areas are Greater Manchester and Hampshire including the Isle of Wight. The Pilot is operated in Wales by Barnardo’s Cymru and was launched on 30 January. As at 28 February 2018 from across Wales 92 children had been referred into the National Referral Mechanism and were being safeguarded. The children’s ages range from 2 to 17 years of age, mainly female and for being sexually exploited.
The countries from where the children are referred include the UK, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Albania and Romania
(As at 31 August over 160 children have been referred into the NRM process and are being safeguarded and all 22 Welsh Local Authorities engaged – in 2016 only 4 children in Wales had been referred by 3 Welsh Local Authorities )
When taking into account the impact of the Act, the Leadership Group also considers the impact of a number of other strategies what we in Wales see to be part the ‘vulnerabilities agenda’ and these include:
National Crime Agency Strategy
Serious Organised Crime Strategy
Serious Violence Strategy
Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy (Wales)
Future Generations Commissioner for Wales Strategic Plan
Victim’s Strategy
How to increase understanding and reporting of modern slavery offences:
To assist increase the understanding and reporting of Modern Slavery offences in Wales, in 2015 working with the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner the Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group designed a process ensuring all referrals into the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) were subject to a crime report being submitted by the Police.
The ‘National Referral Mechanism/Crime Reporting – Wales Pilot Project’ ran for the period 1 September to 30 November 2015. Following a short evaluation which ran alongside the pilot, the process was mainstreamed and the learning shared across the UK.
The process brought about consistency in reporting of offences and provides intelligence gathering opportunities designed to support investigations. Also the process has given frontline workers a better understanding of the NRM and reporting procedures.
To reinforce the understanding and increase reporting of offences we have established a Wales Anti-Slavery Training Programme to deliver a wide range of courses across Wales to a consistent level. The training is approved by the Welsh Government National Training Framework.
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
Training |
|
|
|
|
Trainer Preparation (Train the Trainer) | 80 | 80 | 78 | 24 |
‘Lunch and Learn’ Session | - | 781 | 1,645 | 2,520 |
Introduction to Anti-Slavery Awareness | 1,784 | 3,490 | 3,247 | 5,298 |
Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Raising Course – As from January 2016 | - | - | 480 | 50 |
First Responder Course | 106 | 141 | 93 | 16 |
Modern Slavery and Organised Crime Course (SIO/CPS Training) | 60 | 36 | 52 | 80 |
Totals: | 2,030 | 4,528 | 5,595 | 7,988 |
Slavery is a complex crime to investigate and prosecute which is why we have worked with our partners to develop the Organised Crime and Modern Slavery Course. This a three day ‘Hydra Centre’ based joint training provision for Law Enforcement Senior Investigating Officers and Crown Prosecutors and Crown Advocates. This course is a first for Wales and the UK.
In 2016 the Leadership Group commissioned an academic evaluation of the Training Programme Pathway: Cordis Bright 2016 Report - Effectiveness of anti-slavery training and survivor care pathway
The impact of ‘county lines’, and how this issue can be tackled:
The response to tackling ‘County Lines’ crime is involving multi-agency awareness raising training/events across Wales to better prepare frontline workers to identify and deal with the issue.
We have the ‘All Wales Core School Liaison Programme’ which involves ‘school based Police Officers’ delivering training to staff/ pupils and the issue of ‘County Lines’ is being part of this work.
Police and Crime Commissioners are holding awareness raising events across Wales.
The Police and Local Authorities are working with St Giles Trust and other agencies on youth diversion projects.
As Wales is one of three Home Office funded Early Adapter areas for the Independent Child Trafficking Advocates (ICTA) Programme the ICTAs are engaging where appropriate with children involved in ‘County Lines’ crime. This as resulted in several children who had been arrested later being identified to be victims who had been coerced into committing crime.
In April 2018, two men aged 21 and 20 years were sentenced to 10 years and 9 years respectively at Swansea Crown for trafficking a 19 year old female from London to Wales and forcing her to sell heroin. The men were part of a ‘County Lines’ gang. This was a joint operation between the Metropolitan Police and South Wales Police, ‘Operation Lindvi’ and the first offence of this type in England and Wales to be prosecuted using the Modern Slavery Act 2015 legislation.
What success in tackling modern slavery would look like, and what benchmarks should be used to measure progress:
In Wales we have established the Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group with the aim of making Wales hostile to slavery. We have a robust structure in place to ensure the work being delivered is consistent across Wales.
The Leadership Group has a Delivery Plan with Strategic Objectives and a Strategic Objectives Lead to ensure progress is monitored. Performance of the Strategic Objectives is a standing agenda item at Leadership Group meetings.
The Strategic Objectives are reviewed regularly with new ones added as necessary.
Therefore progress in Wales is being benchmarked and measured against Delivery Plan performance.
We are pleased with the engagement of partners and the fact more victims, adult and children, are being identified and more perpetrators are being brought to justice.
Current levels of support for victims, and how it can be improved:
To support victims we have developed and operate the Wales Victim Response Pathway across all of Wales and it incorporates a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) for survivors (adults and minors). This is seen to be good practice and is only taking place in Wales.
We have been operating the MARAC process for the last three years and to support the arrangements of the process and to gather intelligence/management information. To support the process we have created the role of a MARAC Co-ordinator. This role is funded from monies confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
The Wales Victim Response Pathway and MARAC process are regularly reviewed to ensure victims receive the best possible support.
In 2016 the Leadership Group commissioned an academic evaluation of the Pathway: Cordis Bright 2016 Report - Effectiveness of anti-slavery training and survivor care pathway
See link:
The Anti-Slavery Co-ordinator is a member of the Home Office Modern Slavery Unit NRM Review Group and is feeding back from the Leadership Group concerns and suggestions for improvement into the different review strands.
The Leadership Group is seeking ways to support survivor with employment on exiting the NRM process and one such initiative is the ‘Red Community’s Manumit Coffee’ project which employs survivors to roast and bag coffee which is then sold. All profits are being reinvested into the initiative which also trains survivors to become qualified Barista’s. Other initiatives to employ survivors are being pursued with Welsh Local Authorities and commercial organisations.
How the police and immigration system’s response to Modern Slavery offences could be improved:
In Wales we have accepted that Law Enforcement cannot arrest its way out of dealing with the problem of Modern Slavery.
The Wales Anti-Slavery Group has put the victim at the centre of its work and within a multi-agency response setting.
We have provided awareness raising and specialist training for the Police, Immigration and other Law Enforcement Agencies.
We have established the Wales Threat Group for Modern Slavery which is chaired by Julian Williams the Chief Constable for Gwent Police and Wales Policing Lead for Modern Slavery who represents all four Welsh Police Forces. The Threat Group membership comprises representations from Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice partners.
By establishing the Wales Anti-Slavery Casework Review Group, which is chaired by Kim Ann Williamson MBE from the Crown Prosecution Service Cymru/Wales (also Strategic Objectives Lead) we are able to share good practice, experience and learning from cases to assist in future investigations and prosecutions.
Examples of High Profile Prosecutions in Wales:
‘Operation Imperial’ remains very much an ongoing operation commenced in Spring 2013, when Gwent Police rescued a 43 year old man from a farm in the Marshfield area of Newport who had been kept in captivity for 13 years, He was living in extremely poor conditions and forced to work for no pay. The operation initially resulted in arrests taking place and three men charged in September 2013. A number of other men were rescued. In October 2014, one of the men was sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment at Cardiff Crown Court. In May 2015, following further lines of investigation, two men were rescued and five men were arrested in the Cardiff area. One of the rescued men had been kept in captivity for 26 years and the other for 6 years. The men who were arrested were brought to justice and received prison sentences with the main perpetrator being sentenced to 14 years imprisonment ‘Operation Imperial’ remains an ongoing investigation with more lines of investigation being followed up.
In November 2014, a 24 year old woman was sentenced to eight years imprisonment, having been found guilty at Crown Court for trafficking two women from Nigeria to the UK to work in the sex trade. She had put the women through a ritualistic ‘juju’ ceremony in Nigeria to make them afraid of disobeying her and used this form of control to force them to become prostitutes. In March 2015, the woman was brought back to court and ordered to pay back almost £22,000 from the proceeds of the crimes she had committed.
Recently two of the Welsh Police Forces, Gwent Police and North Wales Police, have established dedicated Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Teams. The work of these Teams is to be evaluated and any learning will be shared.
What the priorities for the new Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner should be:
As a Devolved Government and through the Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group we feed into to Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioners (IASC) Strategic Plan and have done so for the next Strategic Plan 2018 – 2020 which was due to be launched.
However, we are informed by the Home Office Modern Slavery Unit that due to the IASC leaving his post and it not being currently filled, the launch of the Strategic Plan is on hold.
The main concerns which were fed into the proposed Strategic Plan included the lack of feedback from the IASC on his overseas visits, not being consulted on academic research commissioned, lack of sharing good practice and not enough visibility of the IASC and the Team in Wales.
September 2018
Annex A
Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group – List of Members
Name | Organisation | Purpose | |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bon Westcott (Chair) | Head of Community Safety Division Welsh Government
| Chair the Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group and to bring the Welsh Government Community Safety perspective.
|
2 | Stephen Chapman | Anti-Slavery Co-ordinator Lead on Anti-Slavery and Serious Organised Crime Welsh Government
| Anti-Slavery Co-ordinator - Welsh Government - to bring knowledge and expertise associated with that role Secretariat for the Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group.
|
3 | Kim-Ann Williamson MBE | Strategic Objectives Delivery Lead Equality, Diversity and Community Engagement Manager Crown Prosecution Service Cymru Wales
| Represents the Crown Prosecution Service in Wales. Responsible for delivering the Strategic Objectives of the Delivery Plan. Chairs the Training Sub Group and the Wales Anti-Slavery Operational Delivery Group. Also provides performance data and feedback from the Regional Anti-Slavery Groups.
Also Chairs UK Modern Slavery Training Delivery Group which report to Home Office Modern Slavery Group with the Governance being the UK Officials Quarterly Jurisdictional Group
|
4 | Joanne Hopkins
| Head of Home Office Wales Team | The Home Office senior representative for services in Wales which include UK Visas & Immigration and other Home Office Departments. Brings the Home Office perspective to the Leadership Group and links to the Modern Slavery Unit and other parts of the Home Office as required.
|
5 | Carla Giudice
| Wales Engagement Lead and Strategy Development Strategic Centre for Organised Crime Office for Security and Counter Terrorism (OSCT) Home Office
| Home Office Lead for Modern Slavery, Serious and Organised Crime and Counter-Terrorism covering Wales. |
6 | Julian Williams | Chief Constable Gwent Police and represents the National Police Chiefs’ Council England and Wales
| National Police Chiefs’ Council lead on Anti-Slavery for Wales. Co-ordinates the response of the 4 Welsh Police Forces and links to the National Police Chiefs’ Council (England & Wales) Lead for Modern Slavery. Also chairs the Wales Threat Group for Modern Slavery.
|
7 | Leanne Brustad | Detective Superintendent Gwent Police and the Operational Policing Lead for Modern Slavery
| The Operational policing lead on Anti-Slavery for Wales. Co-ordinates the operational response of the 4 Welsh Police Forces, British Transport Police and links to the National Police Chiefs’ Council (England & Wales) Lead for Modern Slavery.
Member of the Wales Threat Group for Modern Slavery.
|
8 | Karen Parsons | Manager, Wales Operations, Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) National Crime Agency | Representing all NCA services in Wales including NCA Operations, the Modern Slavery Human Trafficking Unit and UK Border Force.
Also has links across all .ROCUs and influences joined up working and operations.
|
9 | Richard Williams
| Head of Wales Regional Intelligence Unit/Operation TARIAN | Representing the Wales Regional Intelligence Unit/Operations TARIAN (South Wales Forces) and TITAN (North Wales) and provides intelligence information from the 4 Welsh Police Forces, Regional Anti-Slavery Groups.
Also leads on the Information/Intelligence Sharing Strategic Objective of the Delivery Plan.
|
10 | Jeff Cuthbert | Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner | Police and Crime Commissioner’s lead on Anti-Slavery for Wales. Co-ordinates the response of the 4 Welsh Police and Crime Commissioners links to the National Police and Crime Commissioners Network.
|
11 | Louise Foreman | Head of Service Integration Probation Service Wales
| Represents National Probation Service in Wales and is the link to the National Offender Management Service Wales. |
12 | Andrew Davies | Gangmasters Labour and Abuse Authority Senior Investigating Officer Covering
| The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority lead on the Strategic Objective of the Delivery Plan for preventative measures to tackle labour exploitation in Wales.
|
13 | Liz Pearce
| Head of Safeguarding Welsh Government | Represents Welsh Government interest in Safeguarding and Social Services and Child Sexual Exploitation.
Link to: Safeguarding Boards across Wales and National Independent Safeguarding Board. . |
14 | Mutale Merrill OBE | Chief Executive Bawso | Bawso are sub-contracted by The Salvation Army to deliver the Home Office funded support for adult female and male survivors in Wales. Bawso lead on the ‘Survivor Care Pathway’ Strategic Objective of the Delivery Plan and also deliver anti-slavery training.
|
15 | Mike Wilkinson
| Deputy Chief Executive New Pathways Representing the Wales Anti-Slavery NGO Forum
| Brings alignment to the agenda from NGO’s who make up the Wales Anti-Slavery NGO Forum. New Pathways also provide anti-slavery advocacy services and training.
|
16 | Bernadette Bowen-Thompson | Chief Executive Safer Wales Representing Community Justice Cymru Network
| Brings alignment to the agenda from the wider NGO’s and civil society. |
17 | Annwen Morgan | Assistant Chief Executive Anglesey County Council Representing Welsh Local Authorities
| The strategic single point of contact representing the 22 Welsh Local Authority Chief Executives also Chair of the North Wales Regional Anti-Slavery Group. |
18 | Rachel Morgan | Policy Officer Community Safety Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA)
| Represents the Welsh Local Authority perspective. |
19 | Dr Sue Hurrell
| Special Projects Manager Value Wales Welsh Government
| The lead for the Welsh Government ‘Ethical Employment in Supply Chains – Code of Practice and Guidance’ |
Members by Exception
| Name | Organisation | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
20 | Miriam Minty | Head of the Home Office Modern Slavery Unit
| The Home Office Lead for Modern Slavery in England and Wales. |
21 | Andrew Wallsgrove
| Head of Operations Office of the Children’s Commissioner for Wales
| Represents the Children’s Commissioner for Wales. |
22 | Professor Ryszard Wilson Piotrowicz
| Council of Europe GRETA Expert Department of Law and Criminology Aberystwyth University
| Provides expert advice with regard to the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. |
23 | Paul Griffiths | Detective Chief Superintendent Superintendents Association for England and Wales
| Represents the Association’s perspective on vulnerability issues which include slavery. |
24 | Justine Currell | Executive Director Unseen | The lead for the introduction of the new Modern Slavery Helpline and TISC Report Registry.
|
25 | Dragan Nastic | Senior Policy Adviser UNICEF UK
| Represents UNICEF UK across the UK and global links to UNICEF and their stakeholders. |
26 | Professor Bela Arora | Senior Lecturer in Global Governance University of South Wales
| Provides advice and links on the UN Sustainability Development Goals. Link to ‘high education’ in Wales with international links. |
Annex B
Wales Anti-Slavery Structure
Annex C
The Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group – Delivery Plan 2018/2019
The Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group the strategy to tackle slavery is being delivered in line with the Modern Slavery Strategy.
The Leadership Group Delivery Plan Strategic Objectives are:
Pursue - ‘Prosecute and disrupt individuals and groups responsible for slavery’
Strategic Objective 1: In Wales to increase investigations and prosecutions of modern slavery offences
Prevent - ‘Prevent people from engaging in slavery’
Strategic Objective 2: Tackling Child Exploitation
Strategic Objective 3: Preventative Measures to Tackle Labour Exploitation in Wales
Protect - ‘Strengthen safeguards against slavery by protecting vulnerable people from exploitation and increasing awareness of and resilience against this crime’
Strategic Objective 4: Improve awareness and availability of information on Slavery
Strategic Objective 5: Addressing prostitution and sexual exploitation in Wales – Wales Sex Worker Support Group
Strategic Objective 6: The protection of vulnerable people from exploitation in the Homeless Sector in Wales
Prepare - ‘Reduce the harm caused by slavery through improved victim identification and enhanced support’
Strategic Objective 7: Continue to develop and deliver a consistent Anti-Slavery Training Programme for Wales
Strategic Objective 8: Wales Victim Response Pathway
Strategic Objective 9: Working with ‘Source Countries’
Annex D
The Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group – Terms of Reference
Terms of Reference
1 Background
1.1 This document is designed to outline the roles and responsibilities of the Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group and its members. The Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group Chair is responsible for agreeing changes to these Terms of Reference.
2 The Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group roles and responsibilities
2.1 The Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group will provide leadership and be the strategic ‘influencing’ voice of the Welsh Government’s aim of making Wales hostile to slavery and providing the best possible support to survivors.
2.2 The Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group will achieve the Welsh Government’s aims by:
Being the reference point on matters relating to slavery in Wales
Working collaboratively to promote awareness of slavery in Wales
Providing direction and advice to the Leadership Sub-Groups
Providing direction and advice to the Wales Anti-Slavery Operational Delivery Group and Regional Anti-Slavery Groups
Providing statistical data and develop meaningful data analysis
Promoting good practice across Wales
Promoting research and evaluation
Reaching out to organisations and communities we have yet to connect with
2.3 To assist this undertaking, it will be the responsibility of the Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group to:
Receive and consider reports from the Leadership Group members
Request and consider additional, ad hoc reports from the Wales Anti-Slavery Operational Delivery Group and the Regional Anti-Slavery Groups. This will include working cohesively with safeguarding partners.
3 Membership
3.1 Members will provide professional advice on the development, delivery and quality assurance of the Delivery Plan Strategic Objectives, in particular as relevant to the sector they represent.
3.2 Members will represent the views of their organisation.
3.3 Named representatives sit on the Leadership Group and nominated deputies can attend with the agreement of the Chair On these occassions, deputies should ensure an appropriate mechanism is used to brief the standing Leadership Group member following their attendance at the meeting.
3.4 Where there is more than one representative from the same organisation they must decide how to split meeting attendance and manage sharing of information.
3.5 Membership of the Leadership Group is a non-statutory advisory role.
4 Reporting
4.1 The Wales Anti-Slavery Leadership Group shall report to the Leader of the House and Chief Whip through the Leadership Group Chair.
5 Dates for meetings
5.1 Meetings will be held three times per year to correspond with Welsh Government term-time.
5.2 Meetings will be held in April, July and November.
(Reviewed in April 2018)
Wales Victim Response Pathway