§ Lord Alton of Liverpoolasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is their intention to amend Schedule 2, paragraph 3, of the Proceeds of Crime Bill (people trafficking) when the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill is enacted to incorporate the new offence of people trafficking as defined in that Bill. [HL4797]
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§ Lord FilkinIt is our intention to ensure that the offence in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill of trafficking people for the purpose of controlling them in prostitution is added to Schedule 2, paragraph 3 of the Proceeds of Crime Bill.
§ Lord Beaumont of Whitleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to provide support and assistance to victims of trafficking as outlined in Article 6 of the United Nations Protocol on Trafficking with regard to making available legal, social and other support services to trafficked women working in the sex industry. [HL4806]
§ Lord FilkinThe United Kingdom was one of the first countries to sign the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) Protocol on the trafficking of human beings and is fully committed to implementing its measures.
We set out in the White Paper Secure Borders, Safe Haven: Integration with Diversity in Modern Britain that we are committed to offering the victims of trafficking particular support so that they can escape their circumstances and, in certain cases, help law enforcement against organised criminals. Where they are willing to come forward to the authorities we shall make special arrangements for their protection. We will also consider whether it would be appropriate to allow them to remain here.
Where they are to return home, we will assist them to do so, providing them with initial counselling, ensuring that they have suitable accommodation to return to and providing help to enable them to reintegrate into their own community and find employment.
We are currently discussing with the voluntary sector the best way of providing protection and support services for the victims of trafficking.
§ Lord Beaumont of Whitleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to allow a "reflection delay" prior to the deportation of trafficked women as outlined in the European Commission discussion paper for a directive on short-term permits to stay granted to the victims of trafficking. [HL4807]
§ Lord FilkinArrangements already exist which enable the police to ask for someone subject to immigration control to be allowed to enter or remain in the United Kingdom where this would assist in the investigation of organised crime. These arrangements would permit a period of reflection but they are not offered automatically.
The United Kingdom view is that these arrangements are best considered on a case-by-case basis and that a blanket category of treatment is not the way forward. Any blanket grant is open to abuse and may create a perverse incentive for traffickers to exploit more victims by suggesting that they will be granted automatic reflection delays if they are trafficked.