Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of resources available to the Border Force to combat modern slavery.

We have always been clear that Border Force has the resources it needs to secure the border

Border Security is achieved through a multi- layered system of capabilities, including: people, technology, intelligence, and joint working. All frontline officers undertake training in keeping children safe, Section 55 safeguarding responsibilities, trafficking indicators, the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), FGM and Modern Slavery.

Border Force also has a network of specially trained Safeguarding and Modern Slavery officers who receive specialist training. All Border Force training has recently been reviewed and updated to make it more victim focussed, taking into account the recommendations made by the ICIB Trafficking Inspection and Independent Anti Slavery Commissioner.

BF internal performance data shows a significant increase in identification of potential victims of Modern Slavery during this current year. This is attributable to training and raised awareness levels due to periods of intensification with other law enforcement partners to target exploitation.