Previous Section Index Home Page

22 Feb 2010 : Column 367W—continued

As part of its implementation of the Council of Europe convention on action against trafficking in human beings the Government established in April 2009 a National Referral Mechanism (NRM) to identify and support victims. 527 men, women and children were referred through this multi-agency framework in its first nine months of operation. 'First Responders' in designated organisations such as the police, local authorities, and the UK Border Agency (UKBA) refer potential victims of trafficking to trained specialists in 'Competent Authorities' within the UK Human Trafficking Centre and UKBA who determine whether individuals qualify as victims according to the convention.

The Government has rolled out online guidance on trafficking and the NRM, including providing information and advice for frontline practitioners. For children, a trafficking tool kit is currently being piloted in 13 English and Welsh local authorities. This aims to improve first responders' use of the assessment tool kit, which has been designed to help them identify potential child victims of trafficking.

Our launch with Comic Relief of the NSPCC Child Trafficking Advice and Information Line (CTAIL) in November 2007 has succeeded in actively supporting practitioners on how best to identify and safeguard children suspected of being trafficked as well as making a positive difference to outcomes in individual case referrals.

Operation Paladin is a Metropolitan police-led operation involving immigration officers and social workers. It is based at Heathrow airport and the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) Asylum Screening Unit in Croydon. It also has a presence at the Eurostar terminal in London. The team specialises in identifying and safeguarding vulnerable children suspected of being trafficked and undertakes proactive and preventative initiatives against the trafficking of children. It also investigates specific trafficking and migration offences.

The UKBA has developed human trafficking training for frontline staff to raise their awareness of trafficking, and to help staff recognise and identify indicators. The UK Human Trafficking Centre, in conjunction with the National Policing Improvement Agency, has developed training for police officers. The training covers all forms of human trafficking and has been incorporated into programmes for all new officers as well as specific programmes such as initial detective training and those aimed at police community support officers, domestic violence, roads policing and public protection programmes.

Human Trafficking: West Midlands

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people resident in the West Midlands have been (a) charged with and (b) convicted of trafficking for sexual exploitation in each year since 2004. [315958]

Mr. Alan Campbell: Figures from the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre for the three police forces in the West Midlands area are as follows:


22 Feb 2010 : Column 368W
Charged 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Warwickshire

0

0

5

0

0

West Mercia

0

0

0

3

2

West Midlands

0

2

5

3

1


Convictions 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Warwickshire

0

0

5

0

0

West Mercia

0

0

0

1

2

West Midlands

0

0

3

2

0


Illegal Immigrants: Deportation

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of people caught entering the UK illegally were deported in each of the last five years. [316175]

Mr. Woolas: Between January 2005 and December 2009, 33,176 illegal entrants were detected by Border Force officers at the UK Border.

Of the 33,176 illegal entrants detected, 31,968 were removed or deported. A detailed annual breakdown is provided in the following table:

Illegal entrants detected Illegal entrants removed/deported Percentage removed/deported

2005

3,287

3,090

94

2006

5,589

5,442

97

2007

5,981

5,778

97

2008

8,983

8,643

96

2009

9,336

9,015

97

Total

33,176

31,968

96


The information used to answer this question has been taken from a live database and is therefore subject to change. It is suitable for management information purposes and has not been subject to the detailed checks required to qualify as National Statistics.

Immigrants: Detainees

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment is made of the mental well-being of detainees in immigration detention centres. [317698]

Mr. Woolas: Immigration removal centres are operated in accordance with the Detention Centre Rules 2001.

In accordance with the rules, each centre has a health care department to deliver primary services, which include medical practitioners and nursing staff, including registered mental health nurses.

Each detainee is seen by a nurse within two hours of arrival at a centre. They are then given an appointment to see a GP within 24 hours, unless the nurse considers an earlier examination is required.

Where issues of mental illness are identified which require secondary treatment, a referral is made to the relevant primary care trust for assessment and treatment as necessary.


22 Feb 2010 : Column 369W

Immigrants: Merseyside

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has made an estimate of the number of immigrants with work permits who have worked in Merseyside since 1997. [316830]

Mr. Woolas [holding answer 10 February 2010]: The information requested is not centrally recorded and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Immigration

Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of claims for indefinite leave to remain were (a) granted and (b) declined within (i) three months, (ii) six months, (iii) 12 months, (iv) 24 months and (v) longer in each of the last five years. [315648]

Mr. Woolas: The following tables show the percentage of grants and refusals against the annual totals for the past five years.

ILR Grant
Percentage

<3 months <6 months <12 months <24 months >24 months Grand total

2005

74

11

13

1

1

86,053

2006

83

4

9

2

2

81,881

2007

87

5

4

3

1

72,296

2008

95

2

1

1

1

77,265

2009

90

5

2

1

2

98,117

Five year total

86

6

6

1

1

415,612


ILR Refusal
Percentage

<3 months <6 months <12 months <24 months >24 months Grand total

2005

82

10

3

3

2

3,965

2006

67

11

13

8

1

5,756

2007

49

17

11

14

9

10,103

2008

50

12

13

12

13

8,098

2009

29

26

10

12

23

9,616

Five year total

50

18

10

11

11

37,538


All figures quoted are internal management information only and are subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the full chronology is of the processing of the hon. Member for Thurrock's constituent's case, Ref J269056, since the granting of exceptional leave to remain on 22 May 2000; for what reasons his acknowledged re-application submitted in 2004 has not been determined; when that application will be determined; and if he will make a statement. [316543]

Mr. Woolas [holding answer 9 February 2010]: The UK Border Agency wrote to my hon. Friend on 5 February 2010 addressing the concerns he has raised.


22 Feb 2010 : Column 370W

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the full chronology is of the processing of the hon. Member for Thurrock's constituent's case, Ref G354413; CTS Ref No. M12456/9, since his arrival in the UK on 26 April 1997; for what reasons there has been no determination of his and his family's case; when the case will be determined; and if he will make a statement. [316544]

Mr. Woolas [holding answer 9 February 2010]: The UK Border Agency wrote to my hon. Friend on 5 February 2010 addressing the concerns he has raised.

Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for leave to remain in the UK were made outside the immigration rules in the last 12 months. [317363]

Mr. Woolas: The number of non-asylum applications for leave to remain in the UK, that were made outside the immigration rules in the last 12 months, to the end of December 2009 was 9,295(1).


Next Section Index Home Page