Agenda item - MODERN SLAVERY STRATEGY

Agenda item

MODERN SLAVERY STRATEGY

To receive the report of the Director of Health & Adult Social Care.

Minutes:

Councillor Alev Cazimoglu (Cabinet Member Health & Social Care) introduced the report on the Modern Slavery Strategy 2019 -2022. The Strategy had been the subject of an online public consultation which had ended November 2019.

 

Bindi Nagra (Director of Health & Adult Social Care), Sharon Burgess (Head of Safeguarding Adults & Principal Social Worker) and Fiana Centala (Mental Capacity and DOLS Manager) answered questions regarding the report.

 

The Council had not been obliged to issue a modern slavery statement but had chosen to do so in order to demonstrate its commitment to promote transparency in supply chains and the eradication of modern slavery in the borough.

 

Modern Slavery was defined by the Modern Slavery Act 2015, as a criminal offence of slavery, servitude and compulsory labour; it also includes human trafficking.

 

The report highlighted the following:

  • As a public sector organisation, Enfield Council has a duty to report instances of suspected modern slavery.
  • Enfield Council had signed the ‘Charter Against Modern Slavery’ October 2018.
  • There had been an appointment of Modern slavery lead within adult social care and champions within the team.
  • Training is being delivered to members of staff and social care providers.  A conference on this subject was held on 16 May 2019 and another planned for 13 May 2020
  • A Modern Slavery Team to start January 2020.
  • If anyone thinks there is a possibility of modern slavery they should call the dedicated modern slavery team on 020 8132 2154 or report it online at modernslavery@enfield.gov.uk

 

The following issues/ questions were raised

  1. It was asked if training on this subject could also be provided for Members?

A factsheet had been prepared for Members for their information. Training on this subject would be included on the Members training programme.

  1. It was important that companies and communities are aware of this issue. The team will focus on our suppliers to ensure the supply chain is free from modern slavery. 
  2. This report is expected to go to Cabinet on 11 March 2020.
  3. It was noted that the setting up of the modern slavery team was not being funded by Government. The team consists of two officers and one police officer.  It was asked how it was decided that this number would be adequate? Sharon Burgess responded that they would be looking at businesses, passing on cases for criminal investigation.  Individual cases would go through the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH team). MASH shares the findings of its investigations at the monthly Modern Slavery Board, where cases are discussed.
  4. Many local authorities support victims and make referrals to the Home Office, only. Our central team will enable us to pool very sensitive intelligence. The police are keen to be working with us on this subject. It was noted that modern slavery was usually as a result of organised crime, there is therefore a need for great care to be taken because of links with gang masters/ drugs.
  5. Sharon Burgess is the Chair of the London Modern Slavery Group.
  6. There is a need to ensure we support the victims of this crime ensuring a ‘wrap around service’ is provided. If we identify individuals there is a national referral system – where people are collected and taken to a place of safety. A package of care is provided for people, but they must voluntarily agree to this, unless children are involved in which case child protection measures would be followed.
  7. Monitoring of the effectiveness of new arrangements would be done. Sharon Burgess stated that we were looking to increase the number of referrals we would be making to the Home Office and working with our partners in the Police and Health & Safety to look at an increase in the number of prosecutions. The team will update Overview & Scrutiny Committee next year, on progress.
  8. It was thought there were probably far more people who are victims of modern slavery than is thought. For example, at car washes, nail bars and fast food outlets. Victims are also people who are born in this country. This issue is also closely linked with ‘County Lines’.
  9. Other local authorities - Haringey and Waltham Forest were replicating our model. 

 

AGREED

  1. Training, on the subject of, Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking would be included on the Members training programme.

                                                             (Action: Claire Johnson)

  1. An update on the work of the Modern Slavery Team would be reported to Overview & Scrutiny Committee in January 2021.

                                                            (Action: Sharon Burgess)

 

Officers were thanked for their report.

 

Supporting documents: