1. Introduction

1

Introduction

Despite considerable progress within the field of modern slavery, in particular since the introduction of the Modern Slavery Act by the then-Home Secretary Theresa May in 2015, the trafficking and exploitation of both migrant and British children continues to be an extensive problem across the UK. In response to this, the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (IASC) and Cumberland Lodge held a cross-sector conference, Practitioner Responses to Child Trafficking: Emerging Good Practice, in October 2021. This report is based on the presentations and conversations at the conference, in addition to submissions from a call for evidence which focused on existing and emerging best practice responses to modern slavery in a number of different sectors, including government and policy, research, the police and civil society. The submissions related mainly to the prevention and protection of vulnerable young people and victims, which is why the pursuit of offenders is not covered in the material. With a view to brevity, not all initiatives and programmes are discussed in detail in the report (see Appendix I for a full list of contributors to the call for evidence). The conference operated under the Chatham House Rule in order to facilitate open and honest discussion, and therefore no speakers or delegates will be identified in this report, but their thoughtful and nuanced contributions are reflected in the following ideas and recommendations, highlighting their dedication to best support young people in their care. The discussions that took place touched on the following seven key areas, which will be explored in greater depth throughout this report: 1. Structural factors 2. Racial equality, diversity and inclusion 3. A child-centred approach 4. Contextual safeguarding 5. A multi-agency approach

6. Sustainability and resourcing 7. Research and training At the heart of the discussions was the observation that current practice is ahead of the current policy frameworks operating in the UK. There is, therefore, a pressing need for the voices of survivors and practitioners to shine a light on the weaknesses of these frameworks, as the impact on young people is a true indicator of an initiative’s effectiveness. Examples of innovative practice across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be briefly highlighted throughout the report, with links to further information, where available.