PCD 1308 HTF Bridge Funding grant

PCD 1308 HTF Bridge Funding grant

The Human Trafficking Foundation (HTF) are an instrumental organisation for convening, lobbying and secretariat function in the Modern Slavery sector, both for London and nationally. 

HTF have had their normal funding stream withdrawn for a year and have requested that MOPAC provide a one-off grant of bridge funding for 22/23.  

The running costs for this year will be £47,200.  

This funding will allow HTF to build on their already successful best practice work in London to ensure police and other statutory services and community groups are aware of their duties to identify and support victims of slavery. 

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:  

1. Award the bridge funding to the Human Trafficking Foundation (HTF) , for this financial year. 

PART I - NON-CONFIDENTIAL FACTS AND ADVICE TO THE DMPC 

1. Introduction and background  

1. The Global Slavery index estimates that there are 136,000 people in modern slavery in the UK, with NRM data suggesting a third of all cases taking place in London  

2.  HTF's work builds multi-agency partnerships through convening, which creates holistic support pathways to empower and enable victims to access their rights and rebuild their lives. This helps increase identification levels and improve outcomes for survivors, decreasing levels of reexploitation.  

3. Modern slavery and exploitation feeds into a number of areas of work key to MOPAC such as County Lines, serious organised crime, VAWG, sexual exploitation, child exploitation and safeguarding. By making a positive impact in this area there are number of positive affects felt by other areas of work too.  

4. HTF are instrumental in creating a multi agency response to tackling modern slavery both in London and across the UK, they convene a number of working groups, hold a single point of contact directory, regular administer training, all whilst centring the experiences of survivors and providing a culturally competent service.  

5. The City Bridge Trust have given funding to HTF for the last five years, this year (22/23) the Trust have given them a fallow year. Both HTF and the Independent Anti Slavery Commissioner have come to MOPAC to request financial support for HTF for this year. 

2. Issues for consideration 

1. HTF convening work was part of the business case to remove the Modern Slavery Working Group in the governance restructure, as this was duplication of a HTF forums. If HTF could no longer convene this group, there would be a huge absence in this space potentially leading to damaged collaborative multi agency work throughout the sector. 

2. With the outbreak of war in Ukraine we are likely to see traffickers looking to exploit those trying to escape the country, as well as increasing concerns arounds safeguarding and vulnerabilities of those that come her via legal routes as well. It is extremely poignant that we have a joined-up approach at this time, ensuring partners are working together to share information as the situation develops.  

3. Last year MOPAC funded a set of train the trainer sessions for those that would act as first responders across London, these were run as a one-off last year by an NGO called FLEX. HTF have said that they will pick up running the train the trainer courses as part of their funding, which would be extremely valuable.  

4. 2.4. This funding is in line with MOPAC’s commitments in the Police and Crime Plan around Protecting People from Exploitation and Harm. 

3. Financial Comments  

1. The total budget requirement for this work totals £47,200. The programme will be funded from the Strategy Underspend budget in 21/22. 

4. Legal Comments  

1. MOPAC’s general powers are set out in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). Section 3(6) of the 2011 Act provides that MOPAC must “secure the maintenance of the metropolitan police service and secure that the metropolitan police service is efficient and effective.” Under Schedule 3, paragraph 7 (1) MOPAC has wide incidental powers to “do anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the exercise of the functions of the Office.” Paragraph 7(2) (a) provides that this includes entering into contracts and other agreements.  

2. Paragraph 4.8 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides that the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) has delegated authority to approve all offers of grant funding.  

3. Paragraph 4.6 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides the DMPC authority to delegate those functions which are reserved for the DMPC.   

4. These recommendations are in line with the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent.  

5.  Officers must ensure the Financial Regulations and Contract Regulations are complied with.  

6. Officers should ensure that the funding agreements are put in place with and executed by MOPAC and each of the providers before any commitment to fund is made. 

5. Commercial Issues 

1. This decision requests approval to create a new grant.  

2. This is new piece of grant funding for one year, this will not require a contract and will rewarded through a grant. 

3. This decision has been drafted with guidance from the Contracts Management Team.  

4. The grant agreement will comply with the MOPAC Scheme of Consent and Delegation.   

6. Public Health Approach 

1. HTF take a Public Health Approach to Modern Slavery fitting in with the Mayor’s approach to preventing and reducing crime. 

7. GDPR and Data Privacy 

1. MOPAC will adhere to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and ensure that any organisations who are commissioned to do work with or on behalf of MOPAC are fully compliant with the policy and understand their GDPR responsibilities. 

8. Equality Comments 

1. MOPAC is required to comply with the public sector equality duty set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires MOPAC to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.  

2. HTF is a leading proponent of equality, diversity and inclusion in the sector and co-hosted the first EDI Antislavery event with the BME Antislavery Network (BASNET) in 2020. HTF sits on its advisory panel, and additionally, are the co-authors of the BASNET action plan for the anti-slavery sector 

9. Background/supporting papers 

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