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Modern Slavery

Modern Slavery and the National Referral Mechanism

The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is a framework for identifying and referring potential victims of modern slavery and ensuring they receive the appropriate support.
Modern slavery is a complex crime and may involve multiple forms of exploitation. It encompasses:

  • Human trafficking
  • Slavery, servitude, and forced or compulsory labour

An individual who Migration Partnership organisations come across could have been a victim of human trafficking and/or slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour, so Modern Slavery training is available to all front line and safeguarding employees.

Reporting potential victims of Modern Slavery is vital and could save someone's life. Anyone can report what they see, not just public sector employees. If you see someone you think might be a victim of Modern Slavery please contact the Modern Slavery Helpline 0800 0121 700, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or the police on 101.

If the potential victim is under 18, or may be under 18, an NRM referral must be made – children cannot be referred in using a Duty to Notify (DtN) referral. Child victims do not have to consent to be referred into the NRM and must first be safeguarded and then referred into the NRM process.
First responder organisations have the following responsibilities. These responsibilities are invested in the organisation, and it is for the organisation to decide how it will discharge these responsibilities:

  • Identify potential victims of modern slavery and recognise the indicators of modern slavery
  • Gather information in order to understand what has happened to them
  • Refer victims into the NRM via the online process (in England and Wales this includes notifying the Home Office if an adult victim doesn’t consent to being referred - DtN)
  • Provide a point of contact for the competent authority 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

The Gloucestershire Anti-Slavery Partnership (GASP) aims to bring together public sector organisations, the voluntary sector and local enterprise to support and enable the discovery of and response to incidents of human trafficking and modern slavery in Gloucestershire. This is achieved through a victim-centred, multi-disciplinary and collaborative community effort. The partnership also feeds into the Southwest regional Anti-Slavery Partnership, coordinated by the Bristol-based Anti-Slavery charity Unseen.

Gloucestershire joins the other local partnerships in the Southwest as well as other public agencies to assess threats, share best practice and implement a regional strategy to prevent and respond to modern slavery.