Impact case study database
Improving support for people affected by modern slavery and human trafficking
1. Summary of the impact
Our research has resulted in significant impact in support for survivors of modern slavery by contributing to changes in legislation and Home Office practices, by identifying gaps in professional training and education, and helping to remedy those gaps. Specifically, our research has produced impact in the following areas:
Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill. During 2019-2020, our research contributed to the development of proposals for law reform in relation to the Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill.
Impact on a court case leading to a change in Home Office policy. The research provided significant evidence in a High Court case, leading to the Home Office first suspending and then ending their extant policy in relation to the support for survivors of human trafficking.
The development of new professional training. The research led to the creation of a new training module contributing to the development and launch of national training standards in partnership with Skills for Care (a national organisation recognised for the provision of adult social care).
The development of national training standards and revised Slavery and Survivor Care Standards. This work resulted in the production of a new training module at St. Mary’s University, which provides standardised training for public sector and third sector workers in this field.
‘Horizons’ Summer School. Another outcome was the development of a Summer School for survivors of human trafficking. Funding for this project was obtained in 2019 and planning was undertaken with a view to this taking place in the summer of 2020 at St. Mary’s University. The pandemic caused this to be postponed and the new planned date is the summer of 2021.
2. Underpinning research
Human trafficking and modern slavery have rapidly become a global concern. The International Labour Organisation estimated in 2016 that, at any given time, 40.3 million people were held in modern slavery. In the UK, the goal of eradicating human trafficking and modern slavery has received considerable political attention and the introduction of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 has been identified as setting a world leading example. But the ability to prevent human trafficking and to support victims of trafficking and modern slavery depend on a complex range of factors that extend well beyond the adoption of this piece of legislation.
The research underpinning this impact case study has been conducted within the Centre for the Study of Modern Slavery (CSMS) at St Mary's University. The Centre was established in 2015 by Dr Carole Murphy and aims to provide a comprehensive response to modern slavery and human trafficking across three areas of activity:
• Evaluation and Applied Research
• Education, Advocacy and Awareness Raising
• Prevention, Policy and Practice
The report ‘A Game of Chance’ was commissioned by a philanthropic supporter of research and public engagement on the issue of modern slavery ( 3.1). The purpose of the research was to examine support provision for survivors of modern slavery. The Principal Investigator on this project was Dr Carole Murphy. Twenty-nine semi-structured individual and group interviews were conducted with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) providing direct support to those affected by trafficking and law enforcement agencies engaged in initial identification, rescue, and support.
The overall results of this research were published by Murphy in 2020 ( 3.2). The research had three core outcomes:
(i) It recommended inter alia that the Trafficking Survivor Care Standards be adopted by the government and that their adoption be monitored and enforced as a minimum standard of care when working with people affected by modern slavery.
(ii) Having identified the gaps in training for professionals working with people affected by modern slavery that affected the treatment of and outcomes for survivors, the research recommended that all first responders and other staff in frontline services should be trained to a recognised national standard.
(iii) The research identified gaps in educational provision for people affected by modern slavery and recommended action to bridge these gaps.
3. References to the research
- Carole Murphy, ‘A Game of Chance: Long Term Support for Survivors of Modern Slavery’, (2018, The Centre for the Study of Modern Slavery, St Mary’s University)
https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/research/centres/modern-slavery/docs/2018-jun-a-game-of-chance.pdf (technical report)
- Carole Murphy, (2020) ‘Surviving Trafficking, Seeking Asylum: Waiting, Status and the State’, International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy DOI (10.1108/IJSSP-12-2019-0255) https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJSSP\-12\-2019\-0255/full/html (journal article)
Grant details
a. Principal Investigator: Carole Murphy
Grant title: Examination of long-term support for survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking
Sponsor: Trixie Brenninkmeyer (philanthropic donation)
Period of the grant: 2017-2018
Value of the grant: £25,000
a. Joint Investigator: Carole Murphy
Grant Title: ESRC Open call ‘Pathways Through Liberation - Revealing Survivors' Support Journeys Outside of the UK National Referral Mechanism’ (with Rights Lab, University of Nottingham)
Period of Grant: 2019
Value of Grant: Total - £276940.40 (£53,113 for Murphy)
a. Principal Investigator: Carole Murphy
Grant Title: Horizons Summer School (Development)
Period of Grant: 2019
Funding Body: Co-op Bank
Value of Grant: Co-op - £25,000
a. Principal Investigator: Carole Murphy
Grant Title: Horizons Summer School (delivery and evaluation)
Period of Grant: 2019-21
Funding Body: HSBC Bank (UK) Ltd
Value of Grant: £40,549
4. Details of the impact
Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill
Murphy’s research was an integral element in the work conducted by Lord McColl in developing the Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill which he introduced to Parliament in 2019. Murphy’s research was used by the charity CARE, which worked with Lord McColl in providing several briefings for parliamentarians ( 5.1). Specifically, Murphy’s research findings in relation to gaps in support for survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking in the UK assisted CARE by confirming anecdotal evidence from charities involved in supporting survivors of modern slavery. It then enabled CARE to provide written evidence of these gaps. CARE then collaborated with Murphy and the Rights Lab at Nottingham University on a cost-benefit analysis of the Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill, which subsequently has received an ESRC grant ( 5.2). This work helped CARE in making the case to Members of Parliament in favour of longer-term support provision for survivors of modern slavery. This research also assisted Lord McColl in discussing his proposed Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill with colleagues and government ministers and was used in briefing parliamentarians and government ministers during private meetings and in relation to debates in Parliament ( 5.1). Lord McColl sponsored the launch of the report, ‘A Game of Chance’ in the Palace of Westminster, using the event as a means of raising awareness of the issues highlighted in Murphy’s research. Although the Bill was not adopted in the 2019 parliamentary session, it was re-introduced in January 2020 and is currently proceeding through Parliament. Lord McColl also introduced an amendment to the Social Security Coordination Bill to allow greater leniency in the treatment of survivors of modern slavery from the EU. This was accepted by the House of Lords but was rejected by the House of Commons. Nevertheless, in the process, the government put forward a compromise measure, which was accepted, and agreed to meet Lord McColl to discuss the issues raised by the Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill ( 5.1).
Impact on court case leading to change in Home Office policy
Murphy’s research was submitted by Duncan Lewis solicitors as part of the evidence at the interim relief hearing before the High Court in April 2019 in the cases of NN & LP v SSHD (CO/1040/2019, CO/1039/2019) ( 5.3). In these cases the Claimants were survivors of trafficking, who were in receipt of support and assistance as per their entitlement under Article 12 of the Trafficking Convention and Article 11 of the Trafficking Directive. The Home Office fulfils this through its Victim Care contract with the Salvation Army. Both Claimants received positive conclusive grounds decisions under the National Referral Mechanism earlier in the year and were told that all forms of trafficking support would cease 45 days after this decision (the ’45-day rule’). This was Home Office policy from 1 February 2019. Murphy’s research (specifically the report ‘Game of Chance’) was used to support the claimants’ challenge to the lawfulness of the decision to end their trafficking support and the lawfulness of the ’45-day rule’ policy itself. Murphy’s report was submitted as part of the evidence at the interim relief hearing before the High Court in April 2019 as a means of demonstrating the ‘cliff-edge scenario’ identified in the report. The research argued that this policy acted as a barrier to providing effective care for survivors and hindered their longer-term support. At the interim relief hearing, the Claimants were granted permission to challenge the lawfulness of the Home Office policy and a grant of interim relief was also made, effectively suspending the Home Office’s ‘45-day rule’ policy. In June 2019, the Home Office conceded that its policy was unlawful and said it would no longer apply it, and instead committed to building a needs-based policy to support survivors of slavery and trafficking ( 5.3 and 5.4).
The development of new professional training
One of the gaps identified in ‘A Game of Chance’ was the lack of professional training and training standards for professionals working with survivors of modern slavery. The report recommended that all first responders and other staff in frontline services should be professionally trained in this area. Working with colleagues in CSMS, Murphy developed a project proposal for a training course in ‘Identification, Care and Support of Victims of Modern Slavery’ intended for professionals working in this area. The business case for this research was accepted by the Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation which provided financial support for it and the project began on 1 May 2019 ( 5.5). A Steering Group was formed made up of CSMS members and sector professionals to oversee the development of the course. This training course is the first of its kind and provides a basis for reforming the standard of care delivery across the sector responding to the need identified in Murphy’s research and confirmed elsewhere. It is intended that the training will secure better outcomes for those affected by modern slavery and human trafficking by increasing the number of appropriately trained and well-informed professionals capable of identifying, supporting, and providing care to them ( 5.5).
The development of national training standards and the revised Slavery and Survivor Care Standards
Murphy’s research has been crucial in the work of the Steering Group that has overseen the development of the National Training Standard, which was launched in 2020. The National Training Standard involves collaboration between CSMS, Snowdrop Project, and Skills for Care (a delivery partner for the Department of Health and Social Care) ( 5.6). The Training Standard was launched by Dame Sara Thornton, the Anti-Slavery Commissioner, who commended the work of the University and its collaboration with organisations in the sector both in developing the research and in the production of the standards at various points in the talk. She described the standards as “a brilliant example of collaboration between knowledge producers and knowledge users”. Thornton also made clear the importance of the standard for achieving her own strategic objectives as Anti-Slavery Commissioner ( 5.7).
Murphy’s research (specifically ‘A Game of Chance’) was also cited in the revised Slavery and Trafficking Survivor Care Standards published by the Human Trafficking Foundation in 2018 ( 5.8). The Human Trafficking Foundation grew out of the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery and was established to support and add value to the work of the many charities and agencies operating to combat human trafficking in the UK. The standards apply UK-wide to professionals and agencies involved in the delivery of services to survivors of modern slavery. The Human Trafficking Foundation has representation from over 100 key organisations across the UK including the Salvation Army which holds the government contract for provision of survivor support and Hestia which is one of the main sub-contractors for the UK. The Foundation plays a leading role in shaping policy and practice in this area ( 5.9).
‘ Horizons’ Summer School
The findings from the research also identified a gap in education provision for survivors of trafficking, who often benefit from further education. In particular, the research found that the summer break had a significant impact on mental health. As part of its wider strategy of education and engagement, CSMS undertook to develop a project proposal to deliver a ‘proof of concept’ Summer School for such survivors with the aim of developing a long-term sustainable model which could be rolled out to other institutions and sites. Donor funding (£65,549) was secured from the HSBC and the Co-op and work started in October 2019 ( 5.10). The project is advised by a board of sector experts including Karen Anstiss (Bakhita House), Lara Bundock (Snowdrop Project), Sophierose Holt, (HERA), Joanne Chidwick (HERA), Sarah Videau (HERA), Deborah Stillman (Hestia), Kirsty Hart (City Hearts), Alison Scowen (Co-Op). The pilot Summer School was due to be delivered in July-August 2020 but was postponed to June/July 2021 because of the Covid-19 outbreak.
5. Sources to corroborate the impact
5.1. a. Email from Louise Gleich (CARE) explaining the usefulness of Murphy’s research in Lord McColl’s Bill, CARE’s work, Lord McColl’s briefing, and the cost benefit analysis and b. Initial email approach.
5.2. a. Long Term Support Policy Briefing paper and b. ESRC Grant for Cost-Benefit Analysis.
5.3. Email from Ahmed Aydeed, Duncan Lewis Solicitors.
5.4. PDF of Home Office discretionary leave policy for VoTs unlawful (duncanlewis.co.uk)
5.5. a. Correspondence with the Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation and b. Agreement between St Mary’s and Albert Gubay Foundation.
5.6. Training Framework: Identification, Care and Support of Victims and Survivors of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Documents/Topics/Modern-Slavery/Training-Framework-Identification-Care-and-Support-of-Survivors-and-Survivors-of-Modern-Slavery-and-Human-Trafficking.pdf
5.7. PDF of the landing page for launch of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Care Standards. https://vimeo.com/460551156
5.8. Slavery and Trafficking Survivor Care Standards (2018). https://www.antislaverycommissioner.co.uk/media/1235/slavery-and-trafficking-survivor-care-standards.pdf
Citing Murphy’s work on long-term support for survivors of modern slavery, page 3 and 139.
5.9. Letter from Kate Roberts, Human Trafficking Foundation: influence of Carole Murphy’s work on the Slavery and Trafficking Survivor Care Standards 2018
5.10. Letters awarding grant for summer school from a. Co-op and b. HSBC.