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Bad Decisions: the creation of an Immigration Enforcement Competent Authority will undermine identifying and protecting victims of crime

November 2021

On the 8th of November 2021 the Home Office created a new body, the Immigration Enforcement Competent Authority (IECA), for the stated purpose of identifying victims of modern slavery. The Detention Taskforce, together with many in the wider modern slavery and human rights sector, is deeply concerned about the serious impact this will have on victims of modern slavery and have produced and signed a statement setting out concerns and calling, at minimum, for a reversal of this measure which was introduced without consultation and is a retrograde step. Having a two-tier identification system will mean that many victims of modern slavery in the UK who lack secure immigration status will not be appropriately identified, protected or supported, and will therefore fear coming forward to the authorities to seek help.