By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
A Gedling councillor has called for “moderate language” to be used when discussing refugees and asylum seekers amid concerns some are often the victim of modern slavery.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman this week described thousands of people arriving on Britain’s shores from across the Channel as an “invasion” as the country struggles to process countless new asylum seekers.
Disruption and concerns for the safety of detainees in two Kent migrant processing centres have also sparked fears over a system described by Ms Braverman in the House of Commons as “broken”.
But calls have been made locally for language on the issue to be loosened and for national politicians to stop “saying the wrong things”.
It came as Gedling Borough Council outlined its support for victims of modern slavery during a cabinet meeting on Thursday (November 3).
Modern slavery describes when someone is abused or forced to work against their will for financial gain. It can involve vulnerable people or migrants being trafficked or exploited to fund and fuel illegal activities.
Councillor David Ellis (Lab) is the authority’s portfolio holder for local pride, community engagement and supporting the vulnerable.
He told the meeting: “There are examples where we have been involved in disrupting modern slavery locally and I think that’s a good thing to show.
“But I would say some politicians nationally are saying the wrong things, with some deliberately conflating immigration, refugees and human trafficking.
“All the stuff about having a hostile environment makes it harder for people who have been trafficked, for modern slaves, to seek help.
“It’s important for everybody to moderate their language on this and take the issue seriously.”
The meeting heard how the Labour-run authority has been cooperating with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, which gives councils the duty to identify and refer potential victims through national systems.
The council has also helped in supporting victims, offered community safety services, “disrupted activities where we can”, and ensured any organisations it engages with are free from modern slavery activities.
Mike Hill, the council’s chief executive, told the meeting: “Gedling Borough Council has previously been quite proactive in modern slavery activities, we chair the Nottinghamshire Modern Slavery Partnership.
“We have an approved modern slavery policy dating back to June 2018 and I’m working to update that at the current time.”
Policies include supporting people to live a life “free from abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment” as well as promoting “ethical business” in all the authority’s operations.
Cllr John Clarke (Lab), the council’s leader, added: “This has moved incredibly to get a position where we have modern slavery policies.
“It’s a term that’s used a lot, unfortunately, and there’s a horrendous impact on people. It goes on, sex trafficking and all sorts of other activities – it’s about making people aware and I’m glad this council is paying some attention to it.”
The discussions came after the Home Secretary told MPs more than a third of the asylum seekers arriving in Britain are Albanian nationals.
Figures last week showed 12,000 Albanians have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel so far this year, compared to 50 in 2020.
But Ms Braverman suggested many of these could be connected to illegal gangs and that some could be part of illicit human trafficking operations using people as modern slaves.
She added the influx of people crossing the Channel is putting “unprecedented pressure” on the UK asylum system and is costing the Home Office millions of pounds a day in housing migrants in hotels.
Labour has urged the Government to “get a grip” on the situation while Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama accused the Home Secretary of treating his citizens as scapegoats.
Nottinghamshire Conservative MPs including Lee Anderson and Ben Bradley have spoken in support of Ms Braverman as she looks to tackle the ongoing migrant crisis.
