To receive any apologies for absence.

None were received.

To receive declarations of interests from Members of the Panel in respect of

any item to be considered at the meeting.

None.

The Chairman announced that the meeting was being recorded and that the audio would be available shortly on the RBWM website.

To note the Part I minutes of the Crime & Disorder Overview & Scrutiny Panels held on the 15 September 2016 & 6 October 2016.

The Part I minutes of the meetings held on the 15 September & 6 October 2016 were agreed as correct records.

By Superintendent Rai (Thames Valley Police).

The Chairman welcomed Superintendent Rai (Thames Valley Police) to the meeting and invited her to address the Panel.

Superintendent Rai gave Members a presentation on Human Trafficking and Exploitation.  The presentation covered the following:

·         What is Human Trafficking?

·         Types of Modern Slavery.

·         The Law.

·         Types of Trafficking.

·         Types of Control.

·         Signs that might indicate a victim.

·         Vulnerability Factors.

·         What are we doing as a Force?

·         The National Referral Mechanism.

·         NRM Referrals by TVP.

In the ensuing discussion the following points were noted:

v  That there had been at least three occasions in the last thirteen months when Superintendent Rai had referred suspected victims into the referral process but that none had come to fruition.

v  That there was no ‘hotline’ for victims to call and that it was the normal Police phone number that should be used.

v  Councillor Hari Dev Sharma commented that he felt this to be a very good tool and stated that it was vital to ensure victims received the proper support.

v  That vulnerability factors would be flagged to the Police (e.g. if they did not have access to their passports / mobile phones) if it was felt workers, for example illegal workers in the restaurant trade, were not there voluntarily.  It was noted that the Police would put people found to be working against their will in to the National Referrals Scheme which was a victim support programme to help the victim gain confidence whilst the Police started an investigation.  Members were informed that if it was believed to be high numbers of victims a victim reception area / centre would be set up.

v  That the Police had experience of illegal immigrants claiming to be victims of modern slavery.  It was noted that it was not the Police’s role to deport illegal immigrants. 

v  Parish Councillor Margaret Lenton stated that she felt victims of forced marriages needed to be given support in the local community (community lead support) to help give victims the strength to report incidents at Police Stations.

v  That the Police’s first aim was to safeguard the victims as some perpetrators were not seen as criminals in local communities, particularly in the case of forced marriage.

v  That the Police had access to a forced marriage survivor who was able to talk to victims about experiences to help raise awareness.  It was noted that Community Wardens also helped raise awareness. 

v  That there was not a list of what signs should be looked out for.

v  That the 2016 Global Slavery Index showed there were more victims of modern slavery today then there were 300 years ago which was felt to be a shocking fact.

v  Councillor Hari Dev Sharma stated that he believed it would be very helpful to raise awareness of these issues at the One Borough community forum meetings which were held on a monthly basis.  Superintendent Rai explained that whilst she agreed to some extent she felt that more general forums were sometimes more appropriate.

v  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

·         Monday 30 January 2017.

·         Thursday 20 April 2017.

The Chairman informed Members that the dates of the next meetings were as follows:

·         Monday 30 January 2017

·         Thursday 20 April 2017

The Clerk informed the Panel that there looked to be a need to add two additional dates into the diary – one in December and one in January for two Cabinet reports that had changed timescales.  Additional meeting dates would be announced in due course.

To comment on the report to be considered by Cabinet on the 24 November 2016.