Article 12 of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings requires that the assistance measures detailed in its sections (1) and (2) are provided to individuals identified as victims to a ‘reasonable grounds’ standard of proof. Access to this type of assistance is therefore provided to identified victims of trafficking through support providers.
From 2003 to 2009 the Government invested £5.8 million in the POPPY Project to provide specialist accommodation and support to victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation. A further investment of £3.9 million over the current and next financial year funds specialist accommodation and support for victims of all forms of human trafficking.
To assist in the identification of potential victims of human trafficking and to ensure that they receive the best possible treatment from the outset, the Office for Criminal Justice Reform has published a new toolkit, which provides advice and support to frontline practitioners who may come into contact with victims.