CPS Public Policy Statement on Prosecuting cases of Human Trafficking Consultation
We have drafted a Public Policy Statement which tells you how we handle cases involving victims of Human Trafficking crimes. We want to know what you think about it.
What is Human Trafficking?
Human Trafficking is a very serious crime.
Human Trafficking involves:
- Recruiting vulnerable children and adults
- Moving them to another place, often another country
- Using threats, force or deception to make them do something against their will
- Exploiting them to make money or provide services for their traffickers
Human Trafficking is a form of modern day slavery. Victims can be forced into:
- Prostitution and sexual services
- Forced labour
- Domestic work
- Organ removal
- Slavery
- Enabling others to acquire benefit
- Criminal activity
Human Traffickers can move people from country to country. They can also move people within the United Kingdom. Their victims can be from other countries or from the United Kingdom.
They cause terrible harm to the people they abuse which can also have devastating effects on their families and to society as a whole.
What is the Public Policy Statement on Prosecuting cases of Human Trafficking consultation about?
Public Policy Statements set out to the public how we do things. This Public Policy Statement explains what prosecutors will do when a case of human trafficking is referred to them. It explains our role and what we can do to help victims and witnesses who are supporting criminal proceedings. It also explains other actions we can take to disrupt human trafficking.
We want to make sure that our new Public Policy Statement is clear, fair and right.
To help us do this we would like you to read the Public Policy Statement and answer some questions.
We would appreciate your comments and views in developing the final version of the statement.
Read the Public Policy Statement on Prosecuting cases of Human Trafficking
Download the Public Policy Statement on Prosecuting cases of Human Trafficking PDF file (170Kb)
What are the questions?
- Does the introduction explain the reason for the document clearly and show how much importance the CPS places on tackling human trafficking? If not, please suggest how we could make this clearer.
- Is the description of trafficking and smuggling legislation explained clearly?
- Is the role of the CPS and the explanation of how we make decisions to prosecute clear? If not, please suggest ways in which we could make these two sections clearer.
- Have we provided enough explanation of how we build prosecutions in human trafficking cases? Is there enough explanation of the victim’s role and what can be done to support victims and witnesses?
- Do we show clearly how we will deal with children as victims and witnesses and our policy where a child may face charges for offences they are forced to commit whilst in a coerced situation? If not, please state ways in which we could do so.
- Is the role of prosecutors in their acceptance of pleas and sentencing clear? Do we need to provide more information to explain other means of disrupting traffickers?
- Any other comments about the document?
How to respond to the consultation
By email
- Read the Public Policy Statement on prosecuting cases of Human Trafficking
- Download the response form
- Answer the questions on the response form by typing in the spaces
- Save the completed form on your computer
- Send an email to us at: consultations@cps.gsi.gov.uk and attach your response form
- Your response must get to us by 31st October 2010
By post
- Read the Public Policy Statement on Prosecuting cases of Human Trafficking
- Print the response form and fill it in
- Please tell us your name, organisation (if applicable), postal address and email address (if you have one).
- Send the completed form to us at the address below:
Human Trafficking Consultation
Strategy and Policy Directorate
Crown Prosecution Service
Rose Court
2 Southwark Bridge
London
SE1 9HS - Your response must get to us by 31st October 2010
Welsh language version
This consultation is available in a Welsh language version.
What happens next?
Thank you for telling us what you think. We will read all responses and consider them when writing the final statement. The information you send us may be passed to colleagues within the CPS, the Government or related agencies.
Find out more about confidentiality of responses
Find out more about Government Consultation criteria
We will publish the results of this consultation on our website.
