Clause 23 - Slavery and trafficking risk orders

Part of Modern Slavery Bill – in a Public Bill Committee am 3:15 pm ar 9 Medi 2014.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of David Hanson David Hanson Shadow Minister (Home Affairs) 3:15, 9 Medi 2014

You were not in the chair this morning, Mr Crausby, but we had a discussion about the question of chief immigration officers in earlier parts of the Bill. Clause 23(1)(b) simply states that a slavery and trafficking risk order can be made by an immigration officer—the lowest level of officer. We discussed a menu of options when drafting our amendments, to get some certainty about the Bill, and chose to insert the word “senior”, which is reflective of earlier clauses in the Bill. I would welcome the Minister’s view on that, because there seem to be things that immigration officers can do in clause 23 that they cannot do in earlier clauses. I would like some indication of the level of responsibility involved. Why does a slavery and trafficking risk order have to be made on an application by a chief officer of police, rather than by a constable, yet an immigration officer—a lower grade—may also make an application, rather than the chief or senior immigration officer cited earlier?

Amendment 79 would insert the words “sufficiently serious”. We have discussed the evidential test, and I do not wish to labour the point. I will be interested to hear what the hon. Member for Brent Central says about her amendment.