Member

Amendment 182 would insert a proposed new clause to provide a victim with a positive conclusive grounds decision—in other words, recognition as a victim who would have leave to remain with the opportunity to access support, recover, live a positive life and be eligible for settlement. The 2022 Act introduced restrictions on the criteria for granting leave to remain to confirmed victims of trafficking. Supporting victims is not only important for each individual but it supports that individual in turn to support police investigations and prosecutions—something which, quite properly, the Government are concerned to ensure. It is not as if we do not understand that security in every sense—physical and practical—is essential for recovery. We recognise the vulnerability to re-trafficking and these amendments pick up points made in the modern slavery action plan published in March of this year, which we very much support. Support and security must be for long enough to be effective.