Victim Support

On 08 January Annex F of the Modern Slavery Statutory Guidance was updated to reflect the following changes to Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC) support:

•            Increases in some financial support rates:

1.           The Essential Living Rate is now £49.18 per week for victims and child dependents.

2.           The additional payment for children under 1 has increased to £9.50 per week and payments for pregnant women and children under 4 have increased to £5.25 per week (availability of this payment has been extended to children until their fourth birthday).

•            Clarification that the Recovery Rate is not payable to individuals who receive a negative Conclusive Grounds decision or a Public Order Disqualification.

•            The Essential Living Rate is not payable to victims who have too much income to be eligible for Universal Credit.

An updated section on accommodating victims who are in the Criminal Justice System, including where victims are subject to electronic monitoring. The update sets out the circumstances MSVCC accommodation will be provided.

Public Order Disqualification

The Modern Slavery Statutory Guidance has also been updated with the introduction of a risk of re-trafficking assessment as part of the process for issuing a Public Order Disqualification under s63(3) of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022. The new assessment follows on from the process for making a decision under the Public Order Decision Making Framework, so that when it is determined that a Public Order Disqualification can apply to an individual, the Competent Authorities must go onto consider whether the issuing of that decision creates a real and immediate re-trafficking risk. The factors to be taken into account when making a decision on re-trafficking risk are set out at 14.268 of this latest version of the Guidance.

Home Affairs Select Committee report on Human Trafficking

You may have seen that the Home Affairs Select Committee published their report on Human Trafficking on 8 December 2023. The government is considering its response, which will be published on 8 February 2024.

Modern Slavery Fund extension formally announced

A new HMG strategy was launched in December to tackle the domestic and international threat of serious and organised crime: Serious and organised crime strategy 2023 to 2028 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

For the eagle eyed amongst you, you may have noticed that it also announced a further £24 million to the Modern Slavery Fund between financial years 2022-2025. Over £22.5 million of this funding is Official Development Assistance and so must be invested in the economic development and welfare of developing countries.

The funding is delivering programmes aimed at improving national responses, strengthening criminal investigations, preventing exploitation, and identifying and protecting victims of modern slavery in several countries, including Albania, Vietnam and Romania. It also supports the Modern Slavery Innovation Fund, which is building the global evidence base of what works to tackle modern slavery, reducing vulnerability to exploitation and preventing forced labour in UK supply chains. This funding goes directly to non-governmental organisations in more than 13 countries.

Potential grant seeking to improve voluntary return and reintegration outcomes for survivors of modern slavery

Many thanks to those who completed the market engagement exercise in December. As a result of the feedback, the Home Office is now considering the best way to proceed. Any further updates on this potential grant will be published on Find a Grant.