News
Change in Legal Entity
The legal entity for the UKHTC will be moving to the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA). The move will take place on 1 April 2010. The Centre is currently part of South Yorkshire Police.
A project team has been set up to ensure a smooth transition to SOCA. The UKHTC will continue to work as it does now, from its base in Sheffield. It is likely that the Centre will be re-located into the SOCA estate however there is no firm time frame for this. SOCA fully intends to work with the existing staff at the Centre in deciding this.
First Six Months Figures Released Under NRM
It has been over six months since the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) came into force following ratification of the Council of Europe Convention. The NRM provides a framework within which law enforcement and other partners can share information about suspected trafficking cases to help identify and support victims. It requires that all potential victims of human trafficking be referred to expert Competent Authorities to determine which cases meet the Convention standard.
Internal Domestic Trafficking Response to Barnardo’s Report
Internal Domestic Trafficking Response to Barnardo’s Report ‘Whose Child Now?’
Nick Kinsella Head of the Centre:
“ The UKHTC has been assisting police forces with their investigations into internal domestic trafficking since our inception in October 2006. The UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking published in March 2007 refers specifically to ‘internal trafficking’.
Internal Trafficking - What is it?
Trafficking in Human Beings (THB) is not just transnational it also happens to United Kingdom (UK) nationals who can also be victims of trafficking within the UK. This is often identified in situations where the victims are moved from one location to another irrespective of distance. This may be actually within a town or between towns and cities in the UK, very often for the purposes of sexual exploitation.
UKHTC Response to Independent on Sunday
Nick Kinsella, Head of the UKHTC said:
"The UKHTC has a set budget for funding until 2011. As far as I am aware this has not been altered.
TIP Report Praises Blue Blindfold Campaign
The UKHTC's Blue Blindfold Campaign has received two special mentions in the US State Department Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Report. The report was published on 16 June 2009.
Response to the Home Affairs Select Committee Report in the Trafficking of Human Beings in the UK
Nick Kinsella, Head of the UK Human Trafficking Centre responding to the Home Affairs Select Committee Report said:
Head of the UKHTC to Receive Queens Police Medal
Head of the UKHTC to Receive Queens Police Medal
Nick Kinsella, Head of the UKHTC will receive his Queens Police Medal (QPM) for services to policing in July this year. The QPM was awarded to him in the 2009 New Year Honours List.