Partner organisations (Appendix B)

National Crime Agency (NCA)

Modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT) remains a priority for the NCA, who have a dedicated MSHT threat leadership team.

Immigration Enforcement National Command and Control Unit (NCCU)

NCCU is the primary point of contact for all UK police forces who require immigration enforcement (IE) assistance. The unit is staffed by immigration officers, who provide advice on the immigration status of individuals. When appropriate, the team initiate immigration enforcement action, help to safeguard vulnerable individuals, refer cases and signpost police partners to other Home Office teams. NCCU are also the central point of contact for IE critical incident coordination.

NCCU should be contacted immediately when police are dealing with any foreign national person.

If a future MSHT operation is in the planning stage, requests for intelligence can be sent to NCCU. 

NCCU has access to a substantial amount of information, including fingerprints, regarding individuals from outside the UK, including European Union (EU) countries. They hold records of people:

• who are legitimately in the UK authorised by a visa
• whose visas have expired
• whose visas have been withdrawn
• who have been encountered here as an illegal entrant and are waiting to be removed
• from the EU who are of interest
• who are in the UK legitimately

In the event of officers and staff encountering victims and offenders from countries other than the UK, enquiries should be made with the NCCU. This is a 24/7 facility.

Home Office – Immigration Enforcement (IE)

Many victims and offenders have travelled from overseas. The following agencies can help to gather intelligence and assist with investigations.

Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigation (IE CFI) 

IE CFI is a non-uniform investigatory unit that deals with high harm and serious and complex investigations that are in some way connected to immigration offences. This includes MSHT investigations involving foreign nationals, document fraud and sham marriages. Access to IE CFI for assistance and advice is gained via the NCCU in the first instance.

Immigration and Compliance Enforcement (ICE)

ICE is the overt, operational arm of IE that works in regional teams. ICE tracks, locates and detains those with no legitimate status to be in the UK and those facilitating illegal entry or breaching immigration rules. ICE works in close partnership with other Home Office departments and law enforcement partners. ICE has a mandate to identify and safeguard potential modern slavery victims. It does not deal with criminal prosecutions of immigration offences. 

Border Force

Border Force is the national lead on safeguarding MSHT victims at all UK borders. Border Force can:

• help directly target criminals exploiting border controls using the National Border Targeting Centre
• gather information requested by the police in relation to interception of targets at the border, manifest checks, intelligence, travel monitoring and seizures

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) 

UKVI work closely with other Home Office teams in the UK and overseas. UKVI is responsible for the management of:

• the asylum system, where people seek humanitarian protection with a view to achieving refugee status
• the visa system, which controls entry clearance permissions for countries that require them

Fraudulent applications and sponsorship of UK visas are an important factor in modern slavery and organised immigration crime methodologies.

National Document Fraud Unit

The National Document Fraud Unit provides information on genuine, forged, counterfeit and fantasy documents to law enforcement agencies nationally and overseas. The contact details should not be divulged to members of the public. Foreign nationals enquiring about lost passports should be advised to contact their UK embassy, high commission or consulate.

Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA)

The role of the GLAA is to protect vulnerable and exploited workers. It is a key partner in any labour exploitation enquiry. It has a strategic objective to disrupt criminal activity in the labour market.

Through the intelligence it receives from inspections, the public, industry and other government departments, the GLAA investigates reports of worker exploitation and illegal activity, such as:

• human trafficking
• forced labour
• illegal labour provision
• offences under the National Minimum Wage Act 1998
• offences under the Employment Agencies Act 1973

The GLAA also works with partner organisations, such as the police, NCA and other government law enforcement agencies, to target, dismantle and disrupt serious and organised crime across the UK.

Engagement or advice from the GLAA should be considered for any labour exploitation enquiry.

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) 

Many MSHT investigations involve abuse of the benefits system as a secondary exploitation, in addition to labour or sexual exploitation. Checks should be made to the DWP, preferably through an FI. A multi-agency approach is encouraged. 

The DWP will often lead in benefit fraud investigations. The DWP can provide data to confirm addresses and correspondence addresses, date of birth, any known national insurance numbers and details of benefits received or method of payment details. This intelligence can assist an FI in ascertaining legitimate income.

His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

HMRC can help with intelligence and evidence development, including details of legitimate income, benefit details, employer details, associated business, bank accounts and investments. It can provide evidence to show the disparity between taxes paid and overall income or lifestyle choices.

HMRC is appointed as the compliance officer to enforce the national minimum wage.

National Trading Standards 

One of the primary responsibilities for National Trading Standards is the investigation of doorstep crime. There is clear potential for offenders involved in doorstep crime to be victims of MSHT.

Trading Standards can also help with identifying individuals who carry out substandard house improvements and may have been targeted by OCGs.

Environment Agency

The Environment Agency is responsible for regulating the waste industry and fisheries. Both of these sectors are vulnerable to exploitation.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

The primary responsibility of the HSE is to help prevent work-related death and injury. It focuses on industries with poor risk management records. These include construction, manufacturing, waste and recycling, all of which are vulnerable to MSHT. For example, health and safety breaches have been identified at car washes and nail bars.

Any breach of health and safety regulations can be investigated and enforced by issuing fines or improvement and/or prohibition notices. 

Fire and rescue services

Fire and rescue services have designated powers to access sites and can evidence breaches of fire regulations. They can also make safety checks and close premises if there is a serious risk to life through non-compliance of regulations. 

Car washes, restaurants, houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and nail bars are vulnerable to MSHT.

Environmental Health

Environmental Health can evidence living or working standards where concerns are expressed or as a potential disruption around noise complaints. 

All of the above agencies can be used to disrupt MSHT. 

National Health Service, social care and local authorities

Many victims require health support due to physical or psychological injures arising from exploitation. Health services are likely to possess information useful to an MSHT investigation.

All children who are victims are supported by social care and therefore may have intelligence on victims or offenders.

Housing departments in local authorities may have information on HMOs, where victims often live.