Guidance

Review of the national referral mechanism for victims of human trafficking

The national referral mechanism is a multi-agency victim identification and support process.

Documents

Review of the national referral mechanism for victims of human trafficking

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Details

The national referral mechanism (NRM) is a multi-agency victim identification and support process.

This review establishes whether the NRM provides an effective and efficient means of supporting and identifying potential victims of human trafficking and whether it can, or should, cover all victims of modern slavery.

The review’s final report makes a number of recommendations focussed on improving the experience of victims. These recommendations focus on 6 areas:

  • identification of potential victims
  • access to support
  • level of support
  • decision-making
  • governance
  • data

The report also makes recommendations specifically aimed at protecting child victims of trafficking. These proposals other than those concerning support, will apply in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Scotland and Northern Ireland have differing support arrangements for victims.

We have set up pilot schemes to test out these recommendations, you can find details in the second attachment on this page.

The interim review gives more information about the review’s process and offers initial recommendations.

Updates to this page

Published 12 November 2014
Last updated 15 October 2015 + show all updates
  1. We have published details of the pilot scheme which will assess the effectiveness of the proposals arising from the review.

  2. First published.

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