Hundreds of modern slavery crimes going unpunished in region

The force had a charge rate of just 8.8 per cent, with action being taken on 56 out of 638 crimes given an outcome in the dataset running between 2015-16 and the second quarter of 2020-21, the JPIMedia Investigations Unit has discovered.

Even more appallingly, that rate means GMP is actually one of the country’s more effective forces in tackling modern slavery, with the 10th-highest percentage in England.

It is a similar story in court, with fewer than one in 10 of those who end up in the dock actually being found guilty, Ministry of Justice figures show.

Of the 22 cases brought before Greater Manchester’s courts, two ended in convictions - a rate of 9.1 per cent.

The JPIMedia Investigations Unit’s in-depth look at this sensitive issue to mark the fifth anniversary of the 2015 Modern Slavery Act shows perpetrators are routinely escaping justice.

The landmark legislation was designed to crack down on the “appalling crime” – which ranges from forced prostitution to labour exploitation and domestic servitude – with simplifed offences and tougher punishments.

The Greater Manchester figures show that in 2018-19 there were 272 crimes recorded and yet only nine charges brought – a rate of 3.3 per cent.

The charge rate also went down during the time period under consideration as the force’s workload in the area increased.

In 2015-16 GMP managed to charge almost one in three people in relation to modern slavery crimes recorded.

The following year there were 107 crimes and 18 charges, a rate of 16.8 per cent, while in 2017-18 there were 134 crimes and just seven charges for a rate of 5.2 per cent.

In more recent times it has become more difficult to track the performance of GMP tackling modern slavery in Wigan and the city-region’s other boroughs due to issues with the force changing over to a new IT system.

We requested the data for after the first quarter of 2019-20 from GMP but the force did not supply it.

Further information gathered by the JPIMedia Investigations Unit shows the difficulties police forces are facing.

GMP’s data shows significant numbers of investigations running aground either due to problems with the evidence, such as victims being unwilling to support action being taken, or probes reaching dead ends with no suspects identified.

But even when someone is framed and victims are on board, court action is not guaranteed.

In 2018-19 a shocking 135 cases, almost half the force’s modern slavery workload, ended without police being able to find anyone to put in the dock.

In the same period just two people were convicted, both in 2017.

They were immediately jailed, with one getting between four and five years and the other between six and seven years behind bars. The crime figures refer to the period in which an offence outcome was recorded, not when the offence took place.

Cases are not recorded until they have been closed or a charge brought.

GMP’s experiences trying to tackle modern slavery reflect a national picture in which police have charged fewer people as the volume of cases they have to tackle goes up.

Home Office figures show police forces in England and Wales have recorded 19,632 offences under the Modern Slavery Act to date. But just 864 of these saw a suspect charged.

Although GMP’s data issues obscures the recent picture locally, the national trends show that since the coronavirus pandemic hit the charge rate across the country has plummeted further still.

GMP said it has pioneered ways of tackling modern slavery and that the force takes these crimes very seriously, continuing to put in place measures to improve its record further.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Mossop, of GMP’s modern slavery coordination Unit, said: “GMP is working hard, alongside our partners, to continue to tackle the issue of modern slavery.

“Since 2015, our dedicated Modern Slavery Coordination Unit (MSCU) has been in place to provide vital support and care for victims of modern slavery, as well as working to protect those most vulnerable in our communities.

“GMP was one of the first forces to implement modern slavery tactical advisors, who provide advice, support and expertise on modern slavery to officers across the force.

“We have also given advanced training to many front line officers in recognising and supporting victims of modern slavery, who can be deployed 24/7 to support investigations, our training course for this has been rolled out nationally and attended by over 2000 officers and staff.

“We are currently in the process of establishing a dedicated modern slavery investigation team, which will allow the force to develop a centralised response and improve outcomes for victims.

“Our collaborative work with our partners as part of Programme Challenger, ensures a joined up Greater Manchester approach so that we can bring offenders to justice, deter further criminal activity, as well as educating and encouraging the general public to report suspicious and criminal behaviour.

“Anyone who witnesses anything suspicious should call the police on 101 or report it to the Modern Slavery Helpline on 0800 0121 700.”

Tamara Barnett, director of the Human Trafficking Foundation, said modern slavery cases were often “very, very difficult” to investigate and that a lack of wider support for victims means they are often distrustful of and unwilling to work with police.

The Crown Prosecution Service said its figures showed a national conviction rate of 74 per cent, though it classes its data differently, with anyone who is accused of modern slavery listed in the successful cases even if in the end they are convicted of other offences.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council said it recognised charges and referrals to the Crown Prosecution Service had not kept pace with the increase in crimes.

Sheon Sturland, head of the NPCC modern slavery and organised immigration crime unit, added: “Police are identifying more victims of modern slavery than ever before, ensuring they get the support they need and exploitation is stopped.

“We continue to work with forces, partner agencies and charities to support victims of modern slavery and to bring perpetrators to justice.”

Safeguarding minister Victoria Atkins said the Home Office has allocated £2 million to support police with modern slavery work this year and had invested £11.3 million over the past three years into the Modern Slavery Transformation Programme to boost prosecutions.

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