Modern Slavery Unit

In September 2016, Devon and Cornwall Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer, NPCC Lead for Modern Slavery (MS), and his team successfully bid into the Police Transformation Fund to support the introduction of a number of projects to improve the national policing response to MS.

The bid was to create seven national and regional units/functions. Although the MPS will benefit from all of the aspects, two of the functions, the Regional Analyst post and the Triage Centre, offer direct funding to the MPS for the creation of new posts and functions.

The paper therefore requests approval for collaboration with the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall and the acceptance of funding of £264,112 for the establishment of the Triage Centre and the Regional Analyst post.

The DMPC is asked to approve;

• Approve a collaboration with the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, under S22 of the Police Act 1996

• Pursuant to s93 of Police Act 1996, accept of funding of £264,112 over a two year period (2017/18 and 2018/19) for the establishment of the Triage Centre and the Regional Analyst post.

1. Introduction and background

1.1. Year on year offences of MS (Modern Slavery) have seen a significant increase nationally. Within the MPS alone, recorded offences have risen from 270 offences in 2015 to 1013 in 2016. That upward trend has continued into 2017. Despite this increase, intelligence would suggest that MS remains a hugely under reported crime with an estimated 10,000 – 13,000 potential victims across the UK. MS is intrinsically linked to the wider aspects of Serious Organised Crime

1.2. In September 2016 Devon and Cornwall, successfully bid to the Home Office for funding through the Police Transformation Fund to ensure that police and partners reduce the vulnerability, threat and risk surrounding MS criminal activity, establishing nationally coordinated action, assessment, guidance and training.

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. Establishment of the triage centre within the MPS will not only have an immediate impact on the Modern Slavery and Kidnap Unit, freeing up resources to concentrate of live investigations and better servicing those referrals with a London footprint. It will create a stronger evidence base for National Policing to understand the challenges and inconsistencies of the National Referral Mechanism/Duty to Notify process to influence changes required within the system and identify what else needs to be addressed.

3. Financial Comments

3.1 The grant of £264,112 (£86,385 2017/18 and £177,727 2018/19) would be utilised to fund 3 FTE (2 officers and 1 staff) as well as relevant support and overhead costs. The creation of these roles and functions will not impact on MPS budgets, as all additionality and allowance for support costs and overheads are included in the funding offer.

4. Legal Comments

4.1. S22 of the Police Act 1996, as amended by Section 89 Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 allows the MOPAC, as the local policing body, in connection with the discharge of any its functions to enter into a collaboration agreement.

4.2. The MOPAC Scheme of Delegation at Clause 4.5 requires the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime to approve all collaboration agreements where the Act requires. As this is a policing body collaboration, it is required.

4.3. There will be a written agreement between the MOPAC and the PCC for Devon and Cornwall to formalise the arrangement. The agreement will be published under the Elected Local Policing Bodies (Specified Information) Order 2011.

5. Equality Comments

5.1. Equalities considerations have been taken into account particularly concerning the support of vulnerable and diverse communities/victims who are at greatest risk from MS.

6. Background/supporting papers

6.1. Report.