Rights and Recourse A Guide to Legal Remedies for Trafficked Persons in the UK Rights and Recourse A Guide to Legal Remedies for Trafficked Persons in the UK Acknowledgements Anti-Slavery International and the Poppy Project would like to thank Janice Lam (legal researcher for Anti-Slavery International and currently a researcher for Anthony Steen MP), the principal drafter of the guide. We would also like to thank all the lawyers and other practitioners who contributed with their advice and examples, and Abigail Stepnitz (the Poppy Project) and Klara Skrivankova (Anti-Slavery International) for finalising the guide. Anti-Slavery International and the Poppy Project would like to thank the City Parochial Foundation and the Sigrid Rausing Trust for funding this project. The views expressed herein are those of Anti-Slavery International and the Poppy Project and in no way reflect the opinion of the funders. A Guide to Legal Remedies for Trafficked Persons in the UK 1 Rights and Recourse Table of Contents Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................... 4 Preface ................................................................................................................................................. 5 Glossary .............................................................................................................................................. 6 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Importance of Compensation ............................................................................... 9 1.2 Current UK Policies on Human Trafficking and Compensation ............ 10 2. Understanding the Client .................................................................................................. 13 2.1 Difference Between Trafficking and Smuggling .......................................... 13 2.2 Common Characteristics of Trafficked Persons ............................................. 14 2.3 Services and Benefits Available to Trafficked Persons ................................ 16 2.4 Importance of Legal Representation for Trafficked Persons ................... 17 3. Educating and Advising the Client ............................................................................... 19 3.1 Identifying the Client’s Objectives ....................................................................... 19 3.2 Immigration Relief ....................................................................................................... 20 3.3 Involvement in a Criminal Case ............................................................................. 22 3.4 Special Measures for Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses ..................... 23 3.5 Witness Protection ...................................................................................................... 25 4. Overview of International and Domestic Anti-Trafficking Legislation in the UK .............................................................................................................. 27 4.1 International Legal Framework ............................................................................. 27 4.1.1 Trafficking Protocol ................................................................................. 27 4.1.2 The Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings ............................................. 28 4.1.3 EU Council Framework Decision on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings .................................... 31 2 A Guide to Legal Remedies for Trafficked Persons in the UK Rights and Recourse 4.2 UK Legislation ............................................................................................................... 32 4.2.1 Sexual Offences Act 2003 ................................................................... 32 4.2.2 Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 ...................................... 36 4.2.3 Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 ................................................ 37 4.2.4 Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 ...................... 39 4.2.5 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 .............................................................. 40 4.2.6 Other Laws ................................................................................................. 42 5. Mechanisms to Obtain Compensation in the UK ............................................... 45 5.1 Civil Lawsuit ................................................................................................................... 45 5.1.1 Facilitating Access to Legal Representation .............................. 45 5.1.2 Funding Options for a Civil Case ..................................................... 46 5.1.3 Factors to Consider ................................................................................ 51 5.1.4 Overview of Potential Claims ............................................................ 56 5.1.5 Limitations Period .................................................................................. 66 5.1.6 Commencing Civil Proceedings ...................................................... 68 5.1.7 Enforcement of Judgements ............................................................ 76 5.2 Employment Tribunals ............................................................................................. 79 5.3 Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme ....................................................... 95 5.4 Compensation Order ................................................................................................ 101 6. Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 105 Bibliography .................................................................................................................................... 107 Table of Cases .................................................................................................................................. 109 Practical Annexes ......................................................................................................................... 111 A Guide to Legal Remedies for Trafficked Persons in the UK 3 Rights and Recourse Abbreviations AIA 2004 Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 CPR Civil Procedure Rules Criminal Procedure Rules CJPA 2001 Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 EAT Employment Appeal Tribunal ECHR European Convention on Human Rights ECtHR European Court of Human Rights ERA 1996 Employment Rights Act ET Employment Tribunal HRA Human Rights Act HSWA 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 IANA 2006 Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 LA 1980 Limitation Act 1980 NGO Non-Governmental Organisation NIAA 2002 Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 NMWA 1998 National Minimum Wage Act 1998 NRM National Referral Mechanism POCA 2002 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 SCA 1981 Supreme Court Act 1981 SOA 2003 Sexual Offences Act 2003 SOCPA 2005 Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime YJCEA 1999 Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 4 A Guide to Legal Remedies for Trafficked Persons in the UK Rights and Recourse Preface This Guide aims to be a practical manual for lawyers and social service providers by presenting an overview of the legal remedies available to trafficked persons under UK and international law. It is composed of the following chapters: ● Chapter 1 introduces the key concepts underlying the idea of compensation for trafficking victims. ● Chapter 2 presents important concepts for legal service providers to understand in the representation of a trafficking victim. ● Chapter 3 examines the nature of criminal proceedings brought against a trafficker and the victim’s role in the criminal justice process. ● Chapter 4 provides an overview of the chief international and regional legal instruments focused on human trafficking, as well as the relevant UK legislation, and briefly highlights major provisions in each. ● Chapter 5 discusses the procedural and evidential issues involved in bringing a civil claim on behalf of a trafficking victim, including the burden and standard of proof, and also examines the possible remedies available to trafficking victims. In addition, the guide contains practical annexes with examples of usage of the various methods for compensation for trafficked persons. The publication has been designed so that these annexes can be added to and detached when needed, in an attempt to make this guide a living document. This Guide is not intended to serve as a replacement for independent research of legal claims and strategy. A Guide to Legal Remedies for Trafficked Persons in the UK 5 Rights and Recourse Glossary Compensation1 Financial payment made to an individual for the loss, injury or harm suffered as a result of his or her trafficking experience. Legal Remedy See definition under “Compensation” . Tort A wrongful act, including intentional acts and accidents, for which the legally responsible (or “liable”) party can be sued for damages in a civil court. Trafficking The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Protocol Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime. 1 Particularly instructive is the principle delineated