Agenda item

MODERN DAY SLAVERY EXISTS IN THE UK AND IT DESTROYS LIVES

Council considered a Notice of Motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order number 6.

          The following motion was proposed by Councillor Dave Cargill and seconded by Councillor Norman Plumpton Walsh:-

“Halton supports the implementation of the Modern Day Slavery Act 2015.

Modern slavery is an abhorrent abuse of human rights. It exists in the UK and destroys lives. It affects people living and working in Halton as well as across the pan-Cheshire area. It manifests in an appallingly wide range of forms. Adults and children – UK nationals and those from abroad – are exploited in the sex industry, through forced labour, domestic servitude in the home, and forced criminal activity. Nationally, there have been numerous cases of exploitation in factories, fields, construction sites, brothels and houses.

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 sets out how modern slavery and human trafficking is dealt with in the UK. Section 54, entitled Transparency in Supply Chains, requires businesses to publish an annual statement on their approach to securing their operations against exploitation.

The Cheshire Anti-Slavery Network is a multi-agency group established in January 2015 to bring together statutory and other sectors. Its commitment is to work together to make Cheshire resilient and hostile to modern slavery and to identify and rescue victims.

Halton is a prominent member of the Cheshire Anti-Slavery Network and the Harmful Practices group into which it reports, and recently wrote a three-year Modern Slavery Strategy and Action Plan on behalf of Cheshire Police and the four local authority areas it covers.

A number of victims had already been identified and supported across the Borough and perpetrators held to account through targeted operations. These operations have been police-led and executed through a strong partnership approach, with support from the community as well as a wide variety of professionals, including experts from Halton Housing, Social Care, Safeguarding, as well as NHS partners and the Fire Service.

This Council is committed to preventing modern slavery and recognises a robust and strategic approach is required. Working across the region with partners including Police, Local Authorities, Health and Faith Sectors amongst others, we intend to continue the good work happening locally and develop our concerted and coordinated approach to prevent, identify, disrupt, stop and eradicate modern day slavery in all its forms.

In the last year, Officers from Halton have attended training on modern day slavery and this will continue to be offered.

This Council recognises the active role the Faith sector plays in encouraging greater transparency about anti-slavery including the Service to be held in Chester Cathedral on 17 September 2017 highlighting this issue and involving business and civic leaders. The Council also recognises the role played by the Faith sector in encouraging businesses with a lower turnover together with all public, private sector or third sector organisations receiving public funding are encouraged to register their statements on the tiscreport.org.

This Council resolves to:-

1)    Work towards the eradication of human trafficking and slavery in Halton;

2)    Raise awareness and continue to provide training on Modern Slavery amongst all Employees, Councillors and Partners; and develop clear systems so that any concerns can be raised and addressed;

3)    Implement the Transparency in Supply Chain provisions of the Modern Slavery Act to prevent Modern Slavery from occurring in our own supply chain and all corporate activities; pledge to become a Transparent Borough; and pledge to publish an annual Modern Slavery Transparency statement;

4)    Continue to play a lead role in the Cheshire Anti-Slavery partnership developing a collaborative and collective approach to the issue”.

RESOLVED: That the Motion be agreed.