New powers to tackle slavery at sea – Home Office
‘Safeguarding Minister Sarah Newton announces the commencement of new powers in the Modern Slavery Act.’
Home Office, 8th August 2016
Source: www.gov.uk/home-office
Category: trafficking in human beings
Franca Asemota sentenced to 22 years for trafficking women and girls from Nigeria – Crown Prosecution Service
‘A trafficker threatened to use “juju magic” against the women and children she helped to bring into Europe for forced prostitution has been sentenced to 22 years imprisonment today.’
Crown Prosecution Service, 4th August 2016
Source: www.cps.gov.uk
Modern Slavery Act 2015 review: one year on – Home Office
‘An independent review into the effectiveness of the criminal justice provisions in the Modern Slavery Act 2015 one year after coming into effect.’
Home Office, 31st July 2016
Source: www.gov.uk/home-office
Former British judo champion jailed for attempting to smuggle Albanian asylum seekers into UK – The Independent
‘A former judo champion who represented Great Britain has been jailed for attempting to smuggle Albanian migrants into the UK.’
The Independent, 29th July 2016
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Prosecutions for people-smuggling into UK rise by 50% – The Guardian
‘The number of people prosecuted for smuggling illegal immigrants into Britain in their vehicles has risen by more than 50% in a year, according to new figures. ‘
The Guardian, 4th July 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Court finds UK gangmaster liable for modern slavery victims – The Guardian
‘A British company has been found liable for the first time for victims of modern slavery in a landmark high court judgment.’
The Guardian, 10th June 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Got needs that need assessing – Nearly Legal
‘Smajlaj, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Waltham Forest [2016] EWHC 1240 (Admin). What is the extent of the duty under section 192 Housing Act 1996? This duty, owed to those who are homeless and eligible, not intentionally homeless, but not in priority need, has tended to amount to little more than the Local Authority handing over a leaflet and/or list of letting agents. But this judicial review, unusually, involves a consideration of fulfilment of the duty.’
Nearly Legal, 29th May 2016
Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk
Failed asylum seeker guilty of smuggling hundreds in to UK – Daily Telegraph
‘A failed Iraqi asylum seeker has been convicted of helping to smuggle up to 3,000 migrants into the UK but is fighting extradition.’
Daily Telegraph, 11th May 2016
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Government defeated again in Lords over child refugees – BBC News
‘The government has been defeated again in the House of Lords over calls to take in child refugees from Europe.’
BBC News, 26th April 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Woman forced to live like slave by husband says sentence too lenient – The Guardian
‘A woman whose former husband became the first Briton convicted of keeping their spouse in domestic servitude has called for police to be better trained in understanding such crimes, saying she had to “literally beg” officers to take her away to a refuge.’
The Guardian, 4th April 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
British man faces jail after keeping wife as a slave – The Independent
‘A Londoner who brought his Pakistani bride to the UK to use her as a slave and beat her so badly she tried to end her life faces jail.’
The Independent, 27th March 2016
Source: www.independent.co.uk
MoJ to urgently review legal aid for trafficking victims – Law Society’s Gazette
‘The Ministry of Justice will urgently review its provision of legal aid for people bringing claims for compensation against their traffickers, in response to a judicial review of the current scheme.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 21st March 2016
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Trafficking prosecutions rise following new laws – BBC News
‘Prosecutors from across the UK have signed up to new commitments to tackle human trafficking and exploitation. It comes as figures suggest trafficking prosecutions in England and Wales have increased since the introduction of the Modern Slavery Act in April.’
BBC News, 26th February 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
People-trafficking victims with children are ‘overlooked’ – BBC News
‘Victims of people trafficking who are pregnant or have children have had their needs “systematically overlooked” in the UK, a report has suggested.’
BBC News, 23rd February 2016
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Virginia Mantouvalou: Modern Slavery? The UK Visa System and the Exploitation of Migrant Domestic Workers – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘Since 2012 migrant domestic workers arrive in the UK under very restrictive visa conditions. The Overseas Domestic Worker visa does not permit them to change employer and ties them to the employer with whom they arrived for a non-renewable period of six months. Domestic workers, particularly when they live in the employers’ household, are a vulnerable group of workers. They are also often excluded from labour protective laws. The UK visa has been heavily criticised by many for creating further vulnerability, and has even been linked to slavery. Between 15,000 and 16,000 such visas are issued each year, according to the Home Office, which does not provide any further information on arrivals but produces data on the nationality of the employers. About 80 per cent come from a very small number of countries in the Middle East.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 16th February 2016
Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org
Rochdale child sex abuse: six men charged – The Guardian
‘Six men have been charged as part of an ongoing investigation into child sexual exploitation in Rochdale.’
The Guardian, 18th January 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Briton avoids jail after trying to smuggle Afghan child into UK – Daily Telegraph
‘Former soldier Rob Lawrie admitted he had been ‘stupid’ but told a French court he ‘could not leave’ four-year-old girl behind after repeated pleas from her father.’
Daily Telegraph, 14th January 2016
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Acting in historical sex abuse trials: Oliver Saxby QC provides an insight into the challenges involved – 6 Pump Court
‘In this series of case studies Oliver Saxby QC analyses three very substantial historical sex abuse trials in which he was involved over the last 12 months, each of which ended with successful outcomes: R v Bodnar and others at Canterbury Crown Court, in which he led for the defence; R v Singh and others at the Central Criminal Court, in which he led for the Crown; and R v Carragher and others at Leeds Crown Court, in which he led for the defence.’
6 Pump Court, 6th January 2016
Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk
New anti-slavery helpline launched with £1m from Google – Daily Telegraph
‘Home Office to launch new hotline based on US model, announces Home Secretary Theresa May.’
Daily Telegraph, 9th December 2015
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Couple jailed after keeping man as slave for 24 years – The Guardian
‘A couple who kept a man in servitude for almost a quarter of a century after illegally bringing him to Britain have been jailed for six years each.’
The Guardian, 7th December 2015
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
