North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has challenged the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children, Carl Sargeant AM, this week over what action he and the Welsh Government are taking to combat the massive rise in human trafficking and modern slavery in Wales.
Last week the country’s Slavery Chief warned that people trafficking into Wales is being made easier by its "porous" borders and that those at risk of human trafficking and modern slavery has risen 400% in five years.
Speaking in the Assembly Chamber yesterday, Mr Isherwood, the Shadow Communities Secretary, asked the Cabinet Secretary what is being done to address the problem.
He said:
“We saw coverage last week from the Anti-Slavery Co-ordinator for Wales, who had raised concerns about a number of entry points into Wales not having checks in terms of anti-slavery and people trafficking activities.
“He said that this week would be a week of action by Welsh forces aimed at tackling human trafficking and modern slavery, which he said had risen by 400 per cent in five years, including the children of victims. Are you able to tell us what involvement you and the Welsh Government have had in this operation and, either now or at a future date, brief the Assembly on what has occurred?”
Responding the Secretary said he would update Members in the Chamber at a later date in terms of details from the programmes that the Welsh Government are operating and stated “We are the only part of the UK that has invested, as Welsh Government, into an Anti-human Trafficking Co-ordinator.”
He added: “ I’ve raised this at very high levels in Westminster, because while I think it’s an excellent idea to have an anti-slavery co-ordinator, we are an island, and we are only a part of that island. I think it’s incumbent that Scotland and England also pursue this issue as well, and I would encourage the Member to raise that with his political leadership in terms of trying to resolve this issue in England and Wales.”
Mr Isherwood responded: “Your predecessor worked with the UK Government on its UK Anti-slavery Legislation and the introduction of an officer there who does work with the Anti-slavery Co-ordinator in Wales.”
Mr Isherwood added: “It is odd that Mr Sargeant seems unaware of the fact that the UK Government appointed an Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner in November 2014.”
ENDS