Over 90% of people referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) from immigration detention are victims of trafficking, says a new report. The referrals into the NRM by ‘first responders’ included survivors of slavery, trafficking and torture. Rule 34 stipulates that every detained person must have a mental and physical examination within 24 hours of admission to an Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) – however, survivors have often been overlooked.
The Home Office routinely detains people who are subject to immigration control, the majority of whom are released. However, under the Home Office Detention Centre rules, a person has to undergo screening to be ‘fit’ for detention, as well as to identify survivors of trafficking and modern slavery.
A report by the Helen Bamber Foundation, a charity that helps survivors of trafficking and torture, found that survivors are detained either after imprisonment, with many having being convicted for offences they were forced to commit by their traffickers, and/or because they do not have permission to remain in the UK. Many survivors of trafficking are detained for removal after being picked up during raids on brothels, nail bars and cannabis farms.
It also found a lack of support available to enable people to make disclosures about what they have experienced: whether that be as a survivor of trafficking, torture or modern slavery.
The Helen Bamber Foundation report also said: “Survivors of trafficking should not be detained. Instead, they should be provided with the support to which they are entitled under international and domestic law in the community, including secure accommodation, psychological assistance and legal information and support. This is crucial to enable them to recover and rebuild their lives.”
