Case No. UKUT-00227-(IAC)

AND TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN 2.23. Since 1 April 2009, the UK has been bound by the Council of Europe Convention on action against trafficking in human beings. The purpose of the Convention is to: • pre v ent and combat traffi c king in human beings; • identify and protect victims of traffi c king and to safeguard their rights; • promote inte r national co-operation a g ainst traffi c kin g . 2.24. Although the UK Border Agency was already active in identifying and supporting victimsof trafficking, the Convention has resulted inthe introduction of even stronger arrangements. All UK Border Agency staff at operational and case working grades are required to complete training on how to identify potential victims of trafficking, which contains specific sections on the features of child trafficking. Where a child is identified as vulnerable as a result of a suspicion of trafficking, details of the case are referred simultaneously to the relevant Local Authority and to specially trained ‘competent authority’ teams based in the UK Border Agency and the UK Human Trafficking Centre. 1 6 UKB A s t a f f mus t alway s mak e a r efe r ra l t o a Loca l Authorit y u s i n g th e UKB A fo r m availabl e fo r thi s purpos e a t http://horizon/ind/ manuals/keeping-children-safe/resources/word/ReferralForm15. doc ( W o r d) , o r http://horizon/ind/manuals/keeping-children- safe/resources/word/ReferralForm16.doc. (E-mail) . F u r the r u s e f u l info r matio n ca n b e foun d i n “ Statuto r y Guidanc e o n Child r e n wh o r u n awa y an d g o missin g f r o m hom e o r ca r e ” p r epa r e d t o s upp o r t Loca l Authoritie s an d issue d unde r s . 7 o f th e Loca l Authorit y Socia l S e r vice s Ac t 197 0 b y th e DCS F i n Jul y 2009 . I t i s availabl e a t www.dcsf.gov.uk/ever ychildmatters/_download/?id=6178 Whils t th e guidanc e i s speci f i c t o Englan d th e challeng e i s commo n ac r os s al l fou r countrie s o f th e Unite d Kingdo m an d eac h i s workin g t o add r es s th e issue s i n way s tha t mee t thei r ow n ci r cumstance s an d n ee d s . 2.25. These specially trained ‘competent authority’teams were established under the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings and consider all relevant information, including anyprovided by local authority Children Services, in determining whether a case meets the thresholds for trafficking set out in the Convention. A positive decision will leadto a 45-day reflection period during which the victim will have access to support and will not be removed from the UK. This may be followed by the grant of an extendable residence permit. This is a significant safeguarding role for all UK Border Agencystaff and a major contribution by the Agency to the wider safeguarding of children17.