Vulnerable victim of slavery catches Covid after being forced to report weekly during lockdown
/At the age of just 14, Rebecca was groomed, physically assaulted and raped, then forced to sell drugs by organised crime groups. Although she was identified as a potential victim of trafficking, Rebecca was forced to report to the Home Office throughout lockdown. She contracted Covid in December, quickly followed by her father and sister. Her sister was heavily pregnant and had to be put into an induced coma while her baby was delivered prematurely. She was unconscious for almost three weeks as her baby began life in intensive care. Rebecca is still required to report each month.
A new report released today by the Anti Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit, reveals how reporting in person directly threatens survivors’ physical safety and sense of security by:
Exposing them to the risk of being re-victimised and re-trafficked by making them report at a regular place and time. One survivor, Thanh, was re-trafficked into forced exploitation from outside the reporting centre.
Increasing their dread of being detained. This fear is powerful and difficult to reduce. Many survivors experience trauma and suffer from PTSD. Those who have not regularised their immigration status have an enduring and constant fear of being detained and deported when reporting.
Forcing them to face intimidating and aggressive behaviour from Home Office staff: One survivor disclosed she had experienced racism, verbal aggression and inappropriate behaviour during her screening interview which triggered a psychotic episode.
Survivors of trafficking without leave to remain are usually required to report on a regular basis to the Home Office to confirm their location in the UK. This requirement was suspended in March 2020 due to Covid-19 and gradually reinstated from 20 July 2020.
This new report shows that, even before the pandemic, in-person reporting was causing significant harm to vulnerable survivors. This damage will only increase if the proposed changes to the immigration system are implemented, making it more difficult for survivors to access the help they need to escape exploitation.
Victoria Marks, Director, ATLEU:
‘ATLEU specialises in working with survivors of trafficking and slavery, and we witness first-hand the detrimental effect that in-person reporting has on our clients. The suspension of this reporting last spring demonstrates that there are practical and viable alternatives that would not put survivors at such significant risk of harm and re-trafficking. We and other organisations closely involved in this work maintain that in-person reporting for survivors should be removed and that they should be free from the damaging emotional, physical, financial and mental consequences of such a pointless process.’
A cruel and unlawful burden: Reporting conditions for survivors of trafficking, May 2021
