Introduction

Modern slavery is a serious crime towards children, young people and adults. Modern slavery is where criminals or criminal gangs control and use children, young people and adults as commodities, to exploit them for criminal gain.

The true extent of modern slavery across the world (including the UK) is unknown but it is an ongoing concern, including within the East Riding area. Modern slavery can impact anyone, of any age, and human trafficking is of national and international concern.

The Home Office (2019) outlines victims (including child victims) may be:

• brought into the UK legally
• enter the UK by illegal routes or on forged documentation
• a British citizen living in the UK.

Modern slavery includes:

• trafficking of people (within the UK or internationally)
• slavery
• servitude
• forced or compulsory labour
• sexual exploitation
• criminal exploitation (for example, coercion or exploiting children to carry, deliver and sell drugs through county lines).

National Referral Mechanism (NRM)

The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is a process set up by the UK Government to identify and support victims of trafficking in the UK. The NRM is a framework for identifying victims of modern day slavery, including trafficking, to seek appropriate support.

Using the National Referral Mechanism

When an agency or professional encounters a child who may have been exploited or trafficked, children services and the police should be notified immediately. Normal safeguarding procedures still apply (see reporting concerns page for details on how to make a referral).

Certain public organisations have a duty to notify the Home Office in regard to reasonable grounds where they believe a child is a victim of modern day slavery. This includes the police and local authorities (these organisations are known as first responders). The priority for a child victim is the initial protection of that child, using the ERSCP local safeguarding multi-agency arrangements in place. Modern day slavery is child abuse and those under 18 years of age do not have to give consent to be referred into the NRM. Once a child has been made safe, the first responder must refer into the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). A referral into the NRM does not replace or supersede ERSCP multi-agency safeguarding arrangements and processes.

How the NRM works

1

Referral

Make sure the identified child victim has immediate safeguarding help and support.

A referral can then be made by the first responder organisation involved.

The first responder can complete the NRM at www.modernslavery.gov.uk/start.

You must include as much detail and supporting evidence as possible to explain why you think there are reasonable grounds for the child to be a victim of modern slavery. It is important that you familiarise yourself with and follow the statutory guidance, including the good practice examples to support your reasonable grounds concern to the single competent authority (SCA).

Find out more about the SCA and the statutory guidance on GOV.UK

2

Reasonable grounds decision

A reasonable grounds decision is made within five days.

The first responder completes the NRM form, which is then reviewed by the single competent authority (SCA) within five days. The SCA must decide whether (on the information available) the child is likely to have been a victim of modern day slavery.

3

Conclusive grounds decision

Following a positive reasonable grounds decision, victims have a recovery period of at least 30 calendar days. During this time, support and assistance will be provided.

As soon as possible after the minimum 30 calendar day recovery period has ended, a conclusive grounds decision can be made by the SCA. This is once all sufficient information to make such a decision has been provided. The SCA examines the evidence and decides, on the balance of probabilities, whether there is sufficient information to suggest that the child is a victim of modern day slavery.

Find out more about the SCA and the statutory guidance on GOV.UK

Signs of modern slavery

Signs specific to child victims (this list is not exhaustive):

• parents or legal guardian are absent
• there are multiple children
• the appearance of the children is concerning
• the child is fearful, non engaging, or avoidant​
• identity documents are missing or altered
• the children are, or have been, missing
• there is evidence that a child has been groomed
• the children appear to be influenced, in their presentation or behaviour, by adults of concern.

Other signs include children residing in property where there are:

• bars covering the windows of the property or exits distinctly blocked
• curtains are always drawn or lines of view into the property hampered
• windows with reflective film or tint
• use of CCTV
• visible adults in and out of the property
• letterbox sealed
• signs that electricity or services may be drawn from other sources outside of the home.

Signs of concern inside the property where the child is include:

• access problems around the home, including restricted access to the back rooms of the property
• locked doors in the property
• property is overcrowded and poorly maintained.

​Report modern slavery (external website)

Modern Slavery Briefing (2019) (pdf) on GOV.UK

Modern Slavery: Statutory Guidance for England and Wales (under s49 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015) and Non-Statutory Guidance for Scotland and Northern Ireland (pdf)

Remember that your normal safeguarding duties and support still apply.