Ensuring the National Crime Agency (NCA) can operate fully in Northern Ireland would do “immeasurably more” to combat slavery than Stormont’s Human Trafficking Bill, according to Conservative Party spokesman, Mark Brotherston.
“The DUP and Sinn Féin in particular have hyped Lord Morrow’s bill up to a ridiculous extent”, Mark observed. “Yet it is more about populism and grandstanding than tackling real issues around human trafficking. Meanwhile, the National Crime Agency, which is the real key to combatting this type of serious crime, cannot operate, because of the opposition of Sinn Féin and the SDLP.”
“Slavery, trafficking and prostitution are national problems, which require national solutions and the most effective policing we can muster. The Conservative Home Secretary at Westminster is currently putting a bill through parliament, which will create a new Anti-Slavery Commissioner and coordinate efforts to stop modern slavery in the UK. Extended to Northern Ireland, it has far more potential to make a difference than Stormont’s sloppy legislation.”
“The key to the government’s bill is a duty to report potential instances of trafficking to the NCA. It is the NCA which looks at the broader picture, gathers intelligence, seizes assets and ensures that organised crime groups can be brought to justice. If Stormont were really serious about tackling trafficking or getting to grips with the pimps and criminals who profit most from prostitution, then it would give its full support to the National Crime Agency, rather than tinkering about with its own tin-pot legislation.”