Dear constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about trafficked children and the Government’s Nationality and Borders Bill.

I share concerns about the impact this Bill will have on asylum-seeking children who are victims of trafficking or modern slavery. It is for this and other reasons that I recently voted against the Bill at its second reading in the House of Commons on 20 July.

As you know, the Bill will require potential victims of trafficking or modern slavery to provide information relevant to their claim within a specified period; change the reasonable grounds threshold; and introduce a new public order threshold, which includes denying protection to potential victims if they have committed a crime or acted in “bad faith”.

We know that victims, particularly children, often feel too traumatised to talk about their experience at an early stage. It is therefore concerning that, under these proposals, evidence given late could damage a person’s credibility. I know that EPCAT UK, which works to protect children from trafficking and exploitation, has also raised concerns about these measures, including noting that criminal exploitation is the most reported form of abuse for potential child victims.

The Government’s reforms therefore risk weakening protections for victims of modern slavery, leaving greater numbers of victims without support and more gangmasters free to commit further crimes.

Human trafficking and modern slavery are vile crimes and those responsible should of course face harsh penalties, which I accept that this Bill seeks to do through full-term life sentences for those convicted for human trafficking and increased sentences for perpetrators of modern slavery. However, these measures will not be effective if we withdraw support from victims.

The UK has a proud history of helping people fleeing violence and persecution. As people are driven from their homes in the most desperate circumstances, the UK must always stand with people seeking safety. As the Nationality and Borders Bill continues to be considered in Parliament, I will be calling for meaningful action to tackle delays in the asylum system, the re-establishment of safe and legal routes to help unaccompanied children, and joint working with other countries to tackle human trafficking.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this issue.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Dowd MP