Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to reclassify black mamba as a class A drug; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nick Hurd
A wide range of synthetic cannabinoids are misleadingly supplied under the street names Black Mamba and Spice.
We recognise how dangerous these drugs can be. That is why we acted to control this group of substances as class B drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and give the police the powers they need to take action, including making possession illegal and making longer sentences for dealers possible.
Following two previous changes to legislation, the most recent controls for 'third generation' synthetic cannabinoids came into effect in December 2016 on the advice of the Advisory Council of the Misuse of drugs. As with all controlled drugs we will continue to monitor the impact of these controls.
Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to reclassify Spice as a class A drug; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nick Hurd
A wide range of synthetic cannabinoids are misleadingly supplied under the street names Black Mamba and Spice.
We recognise how dangerous these drugs can be. That is why we acted to control this group of substances as class B drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and give the police the powers they need to take action, including making possession illegal and making longer sentences for dealers possible.
Following two previous changes to legislation, the most recent controls for 'third generation' synthetic cannabinoids came into effect in December 2016 on the advice of the Advisory Council of the Misuse of drugs. As with all controlled drugs we will continue to monitor the impact of these controls.
Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the proportion of human trafficking cases that are linked to organ harvesting; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
There have been no confirmed cases of organ harvesting in the UK. The threat of organ harvesting is likely to be used by traffickers as a form of coercion and control in other forms of trafficking.
There have been a very small number of instances of organ harvesting reported through the National Referral Mechanism (6 conclusive ground decisions in total), but these relate to instances where victims felt they were at risk of organ trafficking, rather than attempted or confirmed cases.
Our threat assessment on the scale and nature of human trafficking, including organ harvesting, is kept under regular review, informed by liaison with European counterparts.
Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with European counterparts on the proportion of human trafficking that is linked to organ harvesting; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
There have been no confirmed cases of organ harvesting in the UK. The threat of organ harvesting is likely to be used by traffickers as a form of coercion and control in other forms of trafficking.
There have been a very small number of instances of organ harvesting reported through the National Referral Mechanism (6 conclusive ground decisions in total), but these relate to instances where victims felt they were at risk of organ trafficking, rather than attempted or confirmed cases.
Our threat assessment on the scale and nature of human trafficking, including organ harvesting, is kept under regular review, informed by liaison with European counterparts.
Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the 5,145 potential victims referred into the National Referral Mechanism in 2017 were placed in safe house accommodation.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
All potential victims of Modern Slavery who receive a positive Reasonable Grounds decision are entitled to receive comprehensive support through the National Referral Mechanism.
Adult potential victims must consent to receive support, which can either take the form of safe house accommodation or outreach support if they already have safe and secure accommodation.
In England and Wales, adults are supported through the Victim Care Contract, and in 2017, 79% of adult potential victims were in receipt of outreach support, while 21% were supported in safe house accommodation. Regardless of where an individual is accommodated, they receive advocacy and signposting to specialist support (the usual form of words). Some potential victims do not consent to receive support.
Of the 5,145 potential victims who were referred into the National Referral Mechanism, 2,118 were children, who are provided with support by the local authority, and therefore do not enter the victim care contact.
Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the 5,145 potential victims referred into the National Referral Mechanism in 2017 received no outreach or safe house support.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
All potential victims of Modern Slavery who receive a positive Reasonable Grounds decision are entitled to receive comprehensive support through the National Referral Mechanism.
Adult potential victims must consent to receive support, which can either take the form of safe house accommodation or outreach support if they already have safe and secure accommodation.
In England and Wales, adults are supported through the Victim Care Contract, and in 2017, 79% of adult potential victims were in receipt of outreach support, while 21% were supported in safe house accommodation. Regardless of where an individual is accommodated, they receive advocacy and signposting to specialist support (the usual form of words). Some potential victims do not consent to receive support.
Of the 5,145 potential victims who were referred into the National Referral Mechanism, 2,118 were children, who are provided with support by the local authority, and therefore do not enter the victim care contact.
Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Modern Slavery and Implementation Group last met; and what the date is of its next planned meeting.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Modern Slavery Strategy and Implementation Group (MSSIG) which I Chair, brings together key stakeholders including civil society to support the implementation of the Government’s modern slavery strategy.
The group meets quarterly. The last meeting took place on 24 October 2017. Unfortunately, the meeting scheduled for May 2018 was postponed. The next meeting will take place shortly after recess on 10 September.
Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the next meeting of the Modern Slavery Strategy and Implementation Group will be held.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Modern Slavery Strategy and Implementation Group (MSSIG) which I Chair, brings together key stakeholders including civil society to support the implementation of the Government’s modern slavery strategy
The group meets quarterly. The last meeting took place on 24 October 2017. Unfortunately, the meeting scheduled for May 2018 was postponed. The next meeting will take place shortly after recess on 10 September.
Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance his Department provides for police forces on their positive obligation to investigate allegations of trafficking; where such guidance is published; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
In line with other crimes, there is a positive obligation on police to record allegations of modern slavery under the National Crime Recording Standards. Once recorded, all crimes must be assessed, which constitutes an investigation. This guidance is published on gov.uk and is available via:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/694433/count-violence-apr-2018.pdf
The College of Policing Approved Professional Practice (APP) provides further guidance to forces on modern slavery investigations. This guidance is published on the College of Policing APP website, available via:
https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/major-investigation-and-public-protection/modern-slavery/
Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will create a formal police referral system across forces to report children found with drugs to the police force and social services where the child is living.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
We are supporting the establishment of the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre by providing specific funding of £3.6 million over the next two years. The Centre is being established by the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead and the National Crime Agency and will help bring the law enforcement effort together and build better safeguarding links. The Centre will be fully operational later this year.