The NRM is a framework for identifying potential victims of human trafficking and modern slavery, ensuring that they receive appropriate multi-agency support (established in 2009). Child trafficking is child abuse. When an agency comes into contact with a child who may have been trafficked, Children’s Services and Police should be notified immediately. All children, irrespective of their immigration status, are entitled to protection.

What to do?

Children must be safeguarded first and then referred to the NRM. If a child is at immediate risk of harm, contact the Police and then Children’s Services. A strategy discussion or multi agency consultation will decide which professional will be the first responder. The identified First Responder can then complete the online referral for those aged under 18 years old.

Independent Child Trafficking Guardians (ICTG) with Barnardo’s

At this stage we would also recommend referring to the Independent Child Trafficking Guardians Service with Barnardo’s. The guardians support children who have been trafficked, exploited or used for modern slavery. 24-hour help line 0800 043 4303.

Who are first responders?

The current statutory and non-statutory first responder organisations are:

• Police forces
• Certain parts of the home office
• UK Visas and immigration
• Border Force
• Immigration Enforcement
• National Crime Agency
• Local authorities
• Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA)
• Salvation Army
• Migrant Help
• Medaille Trust
• Kalayaan
• Barnardo’s
• Unseen
• NSPCC (CTAC)
• BAWSO
• New Pathways
• Refugee Council

Responsibilities of the first responder Organisations.

The responsibilities of the first responder organisations include to:

• identify potential victims of trafficking and/or modern slavery by recognising the indicators
• refer victims into the NRM via the online process
• provide a point of contact to assist with the Reasonable and Conclusive Grounds decisions and to request a reconsideration where a first responder believes it is appropriate to do so Under section 52 of the Modern Slavery Act 201. Public authorities, such as local authorities and the Police, are under a duty to notify the Home Office if they believe that someone may be a victim of modern slavery.

Although the duty to notify applies to both children and adults, as children do not need to consent to enter the NRM, specified public authorities’ and agencies should generally complete a full NRM referral rather than a notification. This enables fuller information gathering and assessment of the case to be completed.

Non-first responder referral route

To refer as an non first responder, you should:

• Refers child through normal local authority safeguarding route.
• Contact ICTG Barnardo’s line to refer a child into the ICTG service.
• ICTG Service makes contact with child’s social worker or out of hours team or other relevant professional to advise of referral and to share safety guidance and discuss submission of NRM referral.

Referral assessment

Once a referral has been received the ICTG Guardian Assessment Team will:

• Triage the referral form to understand the immediate safeguarding needs of the child
• Provide immediate safeguarding advice to the first responder or frontline professional who referred the child to the ICTG service.

What happens next

Once submitted the NRM referral will be allocated to a The Single Competent Authority (SCA) within the Home Office or The UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) who will acknowledge receiving the case with the first responder. This competent authority is now the first responder’s first point of contact in relation to the NRM referral and should be kept abreast of any developments and supplied with any information that is of relevance to the trafficking consideration.

The impact on the child

It is likely that at the early stages of the process (for example where a child is traumatised or in fear and is unable at this stage to engage fully in an assessment process), that First Responders may be unable to provide sufficient detail about the individual and their potential trafficking experience to enable the competent authority to make an informed reasonable or conclusive grounds decision. First Responders are able to submit additional information at a later date.

Advice for parents and carers

If you are concerned that your child is at risk of harm, please call the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency and explain you are concerned your child is being trafficked. Parents cannot make NRM referrals themselves but certain organisations such as the police and social care, have a duty to make a referral to the Home Office if they suspect someone could be a victim of human trafficking. To get help or talk through any concerns you have contact PACE UK (Parents Against Child Exploitation) who support parents who think their child is being exploited. You can also call the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700 or the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.

NRM Reasonable Grounds Decision

The expectation is that this decision will be made within five working days of referral. If the single competent authority (SCA) finds there are reasonable grounds to believe someone is a potential victim of trafficking, they will be granted a minimum of 45 calendar days for recovery and reflection. No detention or removal action will be taken against the subject during this time. The SCA then make a final conclusive grounds decision, which is either positive or negative. Once the decision has been reached, the single competent authority will notify the first responder and the child’s social worker and not the child directly.

Resources to help you

The Kent and Medway Exploitation Identification Tool 

Children encountered in situations of exploitation

Frontline staff should bear in mind that trafficked children can be forced into forms of criminal activity as part of their exploitation, for example:

• gardeners in cannabis factories
• selling and distributing drugs or as pick pockets.

These victims are some of the most vulnerable and least likely to admit their situation to law enforcement due to the threats made on them by the traffickers. In these cases, when the signs are not identified, the young person ends up being charged, prosecuted and convicted of offences committed whilst being exploited. Often, such children are instructed by their controllers to plead guilty, then when they are released from their sentence to be re-trafficked once again.

Avoid victim blaming language

Words really matter and avoiding accusations such as ‘putting themselves at risk’ or ‘choosing this lifestyle’ all contribute to victim-blaming and imply a child is responsible. We need to challenge and reframe this thinking. In most cases, children have been targeted, groomed and exploited. We must be mindful that when children have been exploited they will find it difficult to trust adults. There is likely to be a distrust of authorities and fear of reprisals. Be non-judgemental, attempt to build a rapport and gain their confidence.

Front line professionals should always be alert to the possibility that any child encountered in such situations could be a victim of trafficking. Child protection obligations apply where the young person has been a victim of crime and also the fact that any person under the age of 18 years cannot consent to being trafficked. Where circumstances give rise to reasonable suspicion that the young person is being exploited or abused, a child welfare response should be taken and child protection officers utilised.

Multi agency collaboration

A swift whole-system approach is required in response to a child or young person being trafficked, to address the perpetrators and to protect and support victims. It requires engagement across services including;

• Police
• Council
• Social care
• Health, Housing
• Barnardo’s 
• Community Safety
• Transport and local businesses

NRM referrals for over 18 years and Consent

Up until a child’s 18th birthday a referral must be made. Once 18 there are two pathways depending on consent. If the adult is consenting and would like further assistance an NRM referral can be made by a first responder.

If an adult does not consent to enter the NRM, a Duty to Notify should be completed - a Duty to Notify Form (MS1 Form). From 1st November 2015 specified public authorities are required to notify the Home Office about any potential victims of modern slavery they encounter in England and Wales.

If you are not a first responder, you can still report.

The Salvation Army provide specialist support for those adults trafficked, exploited or used for modern slavery. Their confidential free helpline is open 24/7. To do so, please call 0800 808 3733.

Training

We host a free human trafficking and modern day slavery e-learning course.It is an 1.5 hour digital learning course with a certification. 

Fact sheet developed in reference to the Home Office National Referral Mechanism Guidance, Barnardo’s, The Salvation Army and The Children’s Society.