Latest news with #ModernSlaveryAct2015
Wales Online
13 hours ago
- Wales Online
Boy, 14, was used as a slave by criminal who thought 'only of himself'
Boy, 14, was used as a slave by criminal who thought 'only of himself' The teenager Tyler Barnsley, 18, recruited a 14-year-old boy to deliver cocaine and cannabis for him. (Image: Gwent Police ) A 14-year-old boy was used as a modern day slave by a drug dealer who gave him cannabis as a reward, a court heard. The teenager was used by dealer Tyler Barnsley, 18, to deliver drugs and accept orders on his behalf. The Crown Prosecution Service said Barnsley, who admitted an offence of trafficking under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, had shown "no concern for the child's welfare" and was "only thinking of himself and his drug profits". Newport Crown Court heard that cocaine and cannabis dealer Barnsley had previously been made subject to a court order preventing him from having contact with the teenager but he flouted the rules. An investigation into his drug operation based from his grandmother's home in Tredegar led to a raid on September 27 last year when police seized items including a total of 135g of cannabis worth more than £1,350. A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard a number of phones were also seized, a brown-handled knife, and drug paraphernalia including snap bags, weighing scales, green vegetable matter. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter. Prior to the defendant's arrest, a package from Thailand addressed to "Nigel Thomas" at the address in Ebenezer Court, had been intercepted and was found to contain 3,080g of cannabis. Article continues below Prosecutor Emma Harris said Barnsley's phones were examined and two of the phones contained messages relating to the supply of cocaine and cannabis. The messages also highlighted the defendant had recruited his 14-year-old victim as a drug runner. The boy was directed by Barnsley to deliver quantities of drugs and accept orders on his behalf. There were also images and videos of the boy on the defendant's phone which showed he would have been aware of his age. Ms Harris said Barnsley had previously been made subject to a Child Abduction Warning Notice in 2024 which included the victim's age and stating the defendant should not have contact with him. In statements summarised to the courts, the 14-year-old's mother said there had been a change in her son's behaviour since his association with Barnsley and he would leave the family home without saying where he was going. She said her son had been using her Facebook account to make calls to the defendant and described the teenager as having outbursts in school and at home. The mother said she was aware her son had been smoking cannabis but since he has stopped associating with Barnsley his behavior has improved. She said her son and her family have received threats as a result of the case and he had been called a "grass". Police attended the defendant's grandmother's home again on November 26 last year, and Barnsley was seen running out of the back of the property after handing something to his grandmother. A further search of the address resulted in the seizure of cash, phones, drug paraphernalia, and 4.8g of female flowering head cannabis. Messages on the phone were related to the supply of cocaine and cannabis. Barnsley later pleaded guilty to trafficking, contrary to s. 2(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and being concerned in the supply of class A and B drugs. He did so on the basis that he did not threaten the 14-year-old boy, the boy was given drugs "as a reward", he used the boy to facilitate the supply of drugs and never saw harm done to the boy. The court heard he was of previous good character, but had cautions for being concerned in the supply of and possession with intent to supply cannabis. In mitigation, Jeffrey Jones said his client had mainly been dealing in cannabis, and he was a user of both cocaine and cannabis. The barrister said the defendant was a youth himself when the offending began and described him having "fractured early teenage years". Judge Daniel Williams sentenced Barnsley to three years detention in a young offenders institute. Following the hearing, Louisa Robertson of the Crown Prosecution Service said: 'Tyler Barnsley knew he was recruiting a child into his dangerous criminal activities, showing no concern for the child's welfare and only thinking of himself and his drug profits. 'The investigation by Gwent Police allowed the Crown Prosecution Service to present a strong case, resulting in Barnsley's guilty pleas. Article continues below 'Using children to profit from criminal activities is abhorrent, and the Crown Prosecution Service will prosecute those who do so whenever our legal test is met.'
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Men urged to ‘stop using prostitutes' as MPs debate modern slavery
Men have been urged to 'stop using prostitutes' by a Labour MP, as she raised concerns for women who are being 'systematically raped'. Sarah Russell said a 'significant' number of women are brought to the UK under false pretences before being forced to work in the sex industry. A total of 19,125 potential modern slavery victims in the UK were referred to the Home Office in 2024, a record high since the National Referral Mechanism began in 2009. Labour's Chris Murray argued that women who seek help from the state are being re-trafficked due to delays in the current system. As MPs debated the Modern Slavery Act 2015, Mrs Russell told the Commons: 'If I could say one thing, I really, really wish that men – and it is predominantly men – would stop using prostitutes, could you just stop? 'Because the number of women who are being brought to the UK under false pretences, believing that they're going to do a different form of work and are then put to sex work against their will … kept in physically confined situations, which they're not allowed to leave, and having had their passports taken away from them is really, really significant. 'The other thing that happens is that some women, who come here knowing that that might be an element of their work, if they then complain about it or want to stop, are told that their children back home will be harmed if they do, so are unable to go to the police when they are being systematically raped. 'So please, please, men, stop using prostitutes.' The MP for Congleton added: 'The best way to stop having a market for criminal activity is for people to stop buying criminally traded goods, whether that is vapes, tobacco, drugs or women.' Home Office minister Jess Phillips agreed, telling MPs she had recently visited Romania. 'I wish people would just stop sleeping with prostitutes because that is an exploitation of those women, and those stories those women in Romania told me were harrowing,' she said. Later in the session, Mr Murray criticised the 'huge delays' in victims getting a decision on the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). The MP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh said the mean waiting time for a decision was 831 days, adding: 'That is beyond unacceptable, it is systemic dysfunction.' He continued: 'The real-world implication of that is re-trafficking. Women who are trafficked for sex, who then come to the state for help, end up back in the hands of their traffickers because of our delays. 'Children who are locked in houses and forced to farm cannabis in appalling conditions, who manage to escape, who come (to) us (for) help, then, because of our sheer incompetence, end up back with their torturers. 'We should not be congratulating ourselves today on the passage of historic legislation, we should be hanging our heads in shame at what is happening under our watch. 'So I hope the minister will today set out a clear plan to clear that backlog.' Labour minister Ms Phillips said the Home Office had reduced the backlog of NRM cases, halving it since a peak in 2022 after hiring 100 staff. She said the Government will launch a consultation on the process used to identify victims of modern slavery. 'If I do nothing else, the reform of the NRM is something that I feel fairly certain that I can commit to. It is not working – the system does not work,' Ms Phillips said. Elsewhere in the debate, Conservative former minister Dame Karen Bradley led calls for the Modern Slavery Act to be updated, including to address concerns over forced labour in supply chains. The Government earlier this week rejected an attempt to amend legislation to prevent ministers from providing financial assistance to GB Energy if there is credible evidence of modern slavery in the company's supply chains. It was proposed against the backdrop of mounting disquiet over the participation of China in Britain's green transition, with long-standing concerns over forced Uighur labour. Dame Karen, who chairs the Home Affairs Committee, said the United States has legislation to stop items entering the country's market unless the importer can prove that there was no slavery in the supply chain. She added: 'I would urge the Government to look at what we can do on those measures because I think these are simple wins the Government could have that would really improve the situation and make it clear that we do not stand for slavery. 'We're not going to become green in our energy production on the backs of the poorest and those that are being exploited.' Labour MP Blair McDougall (East Renfrewshire) highlighted the 'crimes against humanity' taking place against the Uighurs and said slave labour was 'far from limited' to the green energy sector. In his concluding remarks, Mr McDougall said: 'We are trying to rebuild the British economy but we cannot do that at the cost of being complicit in the destruction of an entire people. On this 10th anniversary, it's high time to modernise the Modern Slavery Act.' Ms Phillips said: 'There is nothing that I would say that is currently off the table for members of this House to work with the Government with regard to that, with a special mention to the Uighur Muslims who have been mentioned again, and again in this House.'
The Independent
27-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Men urged to ‘stop using prostitutes' as MPs debate modern slavery
Men have been urged to 'stop using prostitutes' by a Labour MP, as she raised concerns for women who are being 'systematically raped'. Sarah Russell said a 'significant' number of women are brought to the UK under false pretences before being forced to work in the sex industry. A total of 19,125 potential modern slavery victims in the UK were referred to the Home Office in 2024, a record high since the National Referral Mechanism began in 2009. Labour's Chris Murray argued that women who seek help from the state are being re-trafficked due to delays in the current system. As MPs debated the Modern Slavery Act 2015, Mrs Russell told the Commons: 'If I could say one thing, I really, really wish that men – and it is predominantly men – would stop using prostitutes, could you just stop? 'Because the number of women who are being brought to the UK under false pretences, believing that they're going to do a different form of work and are then put to sex work against their will … kept in physically confined situations, which they're not allowed to leave, and having had their passports taken away from them is really, really significant. 'The other thing that happens is that some women, who come here knowing that that might be an element of their work, if they then complain about it or want to stop, are told that their children back home will be harmed if they do, so are unable to go to the police when they are being systematically raped. 'So please, please, men, stop using prostitutes.' The MP for Congleton added: 'The best way to stop having a market for criminal activity is for people to stop buying criminally traded goods, whether that is vapes, tobacco, drugs or women.' Home Office minister Jess Phillips agreed, telling MPs she had recently visited Romania. 'I wish people would just stop sleeping with prostitutes because that is an exploitation of those women, and those stories those women in Romania told me were harrowing,' she said. Later in the session, Mr Murray criticised the 'huge delays' in victims getting a decision on the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). The MP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh said the mean waiting time for a decision was 831 days, adding: 'That is beyond unacceptable, it is systemic dysfunction.' He continued: 'The real-world implication of that is re-trafficking. Women who are trafficked for sex, who then come to the state for help, end up back in the hands of their traffickers because of our delays. 'Children who are locked in houses and forced to farm cannabis in appalling conditions, who manage to escape, who come (to) us (for) help, then, because of our sheer incompetence, end up back with their torturers. 'We should not be congratulating ourselves today on the passage of historic legislation, we should be hanging our heads in shame at what is happening under our watch. 'So I hope the minister will today set out a clear plan to clear that backlog.' Labour minister Ms Phillips said the Home Office had reduced the backlog of NRM cases, halving it since a peak in 2022 after hiring 100 staff. She said the Government will launch a consultation on the process used to identify victims of modern slavery. 'If I do nothing else, the reform of the NRM is something that I feel fairly certain that I can commit to. It is not working – the system does not work,' Ms Phillips said. Elsewhere in the debate, Conservative former minister Dame Karen Bradley led calls for the Modern Slavery Act to be updated, including to address concerns over forced labour in supply chains. The Government earlier this week rejected an attempt to amend legislation to prevent ministers from providing financial assistance to GB Energy if there is credible evidence of modern slavery in the company's supply chains. It was proposed against the backdrop of mounting disquiet over the participation of China in Britain's green transition, with long-standing concerns over forced Uighur labour. Dame Karen, who chairs the Home Affairs Committee, said the United States has legislation to stop items entering the country's market unless the importer can prove that there was no slavery in the supply chain. She added: 'I would urge the Government to look at what we can do on those measures because I think these are simple wins the Government could have that would really improve the situation and make it clear that we do not stand for slavery. 'We're not going to become green in our energy production on the backs of the poorest and those that are being exploited.' Labour MP Blair McDougall (East Renfrewshire) highlighted the 'crimes against humanity' taking place against the Uighurs and said slave labour was 'far from limited' to the green energy sector. In his concluding remarks, Mr McDougall said: 'We are trying to rebuild the British economy but we cannot do that at the cost of being complicit in the destruction of an entire people. On this 10th anniversary, it's high time to modernise the Modern Slavery Act.' Ms Phillips said: 'There is nothing that I would say that is currently off the table for members of this House to work with the Government with regard to that, with a special mention to the Uighur Muslims who have been mentioned again, and again in this House.'
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Labour's border bill to 'block migrants from claiming slavery protections'
Labour's new small boats legislation will reportedly retain a number of controversial measures the party previously opposed, including a ban on migrants claiming modern slavery protections and powers to detain children. The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill – set to be published on Thursday – is expected to include new counterterrorism-style powers to target people smugglers, including the seizure of mobile phones and financial assets. Sir Keir Starmer has promised to use the legislation to 'smash the gangs' and significantly reduce the number of people illegally arriving in the UK, with more than a thousand people having arrived in the UK via small boat this year so far. While Labour previously accused the Tories of trashing slavery protections through their 2023 Illegal Migration Act - which the party repeatedly voted against - the new bill will reportedly fail to reverse a number of measures included in the old bill. According to The Times, the legislation is expected to include a ban on illegal migrants claiming protections under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, as well as powers to detain child refugees for up to 28 days. Victims of modern slavery who arrived in the UK illegally were prevented from accessing the UK's national referral mechanism (NRM) under the last government's legislation — the system for supporting and identifying victims. Sir Keir Starmer said the legislation would 'drive a coach and horses' through protections for women who were trafficked to the UK as victims of modern slavery. Meanwhile, Jess Phillips – who now sits in Sir Keir's government as safeguarding minister – claimed it was as a 'a traffickers' dream, a tool for their control' as it effectively hid modern slavery victims from UK authorities. But the Conservative government argued that the NRM was being unfairly used by migrants to avoid deportation. Mr Sunak's illegal migration act also allowed unaccompanied children to be detained for up to eight days, and up to 28 if their age was under dispute by the Home Office. This is also said to be retained in the new bill. In addition, the government is expected to retain the cap on the number of migrants who can arrive each year on safe and legal routes - a measure which government sources told The Times was imposed to mitigate criticism from the Conservatives and Reform UK. The legislation is expected to see people-smuggling suspects facing travel bans and social media blackouts as part of an attempt to crack down on organised immigration crime. Court orders to restrict the activity of those under investigation for such crimes will be strengthened, with suspects facing bans on laptop or mobile phones, accessing social media networks, associating with certain people, or accessing their finances under the measures announced by the Home Office. Serious Crime Prevention Orders (SCPOs) can already be sought to curb the movement of people involved in organised immigration crime. But the government said the measures are not being used to their full effect and plans to introduce new 'interim' SCPOs designed to place 'immediate' restrictions on suspects' activity while a full order is considered by the courts. Home secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'Dangerous criminal people-smugglers are profiting from undermining our border security and putting lives at risk. They cannot be allowed to get away with it. 'Stronger international collaboration has already led to important arrests and action against dangerous gangs over the last few months. 'We will give law enforcement stronger powers they need to pursue and stop more of these vile gang networks. 'Border security is one of the foundations of this Government's Plan for Change, including making people better off, delivering safer streets and strengthening our NHS, and we will do everything in our power to deliver for working people.' The Home Office has been contacted for comment.
The Independent
30-01-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Labour's border bill to 'block migrants from claiming slavery protections'
Labour's new small boats legislation will reportedly retain a number of controversial measures the party previously opposed, including a ban on migrants claiming modern slavery protections and powers to detain children. The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill – set to be published on Thursday – is expected to include new counterterrorism-style powers to target people smugglers, including the seizure of mobile phones and financial assets. Sir Keir Starmer has promised to use the legislation to 'smash the gangs' and significantly reduce the number of people illegally arriving in the UK, with more than a thousand people having arrived in the UK via small boat this year so far. While Labour previously accused the Tories of trashing slavery protections through their 2023 Illegal Migration Act - which the party repeatedly voted against - the new bill will reportedly fail to reverse a number of measures included in the old bill. According to The Times, the legislation is expected to include a ban on illegal migrants claiming protections under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, as well as powers to detain child refugees for up to 28 days. Victims of modern slavery who arrived in the UK illegally were prevented from accessing the UK's national referral mechanism (NRM) under the last government's legislation — the system for supporting and identifying victims. Sir Keir Starmer said the legislation would 'drive a coach and horses' through protections for women who were trafficked to the UK as victims of modern slavery. Meanwhile, Jess Phillips – who now sits in Sir Keir's government as safeguarding minister – claimed it was as a 'a traffickers' dream, a tool for their control' as it effectively hid modern slavery victims from UK authorities. But the Conservative government argued that the NRM was being unfairly used by migrants to avoid deportation. Mr Sunak's illegal migration act also allowed unaccompanied children to be detained for up to eight days, and up to 28 if their age was under dispute by the Home Office. This is also said to be retained in the new bill. In addition, the government is expected to retain the cap on the number of migrants who can arrive each year on safe and legal routes - a measure which government sources told The Times was imposed to mitigate criticism from the Conservatives and Reform UK. The legislation is expected to see people-smuggling suspects facing travel bans and social media blackouts as part of an attempt to crack down on organised immigration crime. Court orders to restrict the activity of those under investigation for such crimes will be strengthened, with suspects facing bans on laptop or mobile phones, accessing social media networks, associating with certain people, or accessing their finances under the measures announced by the Home Office. Serious Crime Prevention Orders (SCPOs) can already be sought to curb the movement of people involved in organised immigration crime. But the government said the measures are not being used to their full effect and plans to introduce new 'interim' SCPOs designed to place 'immediate' restrictions on suspects' activity while a full order is considered by the courts. Home secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'Dangerous criminal people-smugglers are profiting from undermining our border security and putting lives at risk. They cannot be allowed to get away with it. 'Stronger international collaboration has already led to important arrests and action against dangerous gangs over the last few months. 'We will give law enforcement stronger powers they need to pursue and stop more of these vile gang networks. 'Border security is one of the foundations of this Government's Plan for Change, including making people better off, delivering safer streets and strengthening our NHS, and we will do everything in our power to deliver for working people.'
