The student movement NUS-USI has responded to the consultation on Lord Morrow’s Human Trafficking and Exploitation draft Bill, and has stated that it’s essential that strong measures are in place to tackle human trafficking. NUS-USI’s Equality Officer Henry Adams said that clause four of the bill should be removed as it takes the emphasis away from tackling human trafficking itself, and conflates the related but distinct areas of prostitution and exploitation.

Henry Adams said: “We welcome the fact that legislation is being realised as an avenue to tackle the devastating issue that is human trafficking.

“There needs to be robust measures put in place to ensure trafficking can be tackled head on. It’s essential that strong penalties are enforced against those who are involved in this despicable practice, and it’s also crucial that safeguards and strong protection are provided for people who have suffered as a result of trafficking.

“We are very pleased to submit a detailed response to Lord Morrow’s consultation. In our response we have proposed the removal of clause four of the bill. We believe that it is so important to address human trafficking that this bill should focus solely on this and not on anything else. Our concern is that the impacts of this clause would over-burden the institutions and organisations involved in tackling human trafficking.

“The Bill should be about prevention of trafficking, punishing traffickers and protecting those who have been trafficked, and it should not be diluted or diminished by any other issues.”