“If I go back, I’ll be murdered. And it will be the government’s fault that I was murdered.” That is the stark assessment of Anna, a victim of sex trafficking, who faces removal from the UK under the new Illegal Migration Act.
Anna, not her real name, was trafficked to the UK from Albania, to be sold for sex. She is intelligent and highly articulate. She had a bright future. One that was cruelly snatched away by a criminal gang.
“I was all the time threatened. I was getting raped all the time,” she tells me, fighting back tears.
“And not even in Albania, but in every country that I’ve been through, I’ve been raped. I didn’t have an option to tell no, or to say anything because I was being threatened for my parents. I was being threatened for my life.”
Anna’s case is currently being considered by the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the official framework for identifying victims of modern slavery.
But she entered the UK illegally, using a fake passport. And as a result of that fact, under the terms of the Illegal Migration Act, she and others like her would lose the protections of the NRM and could face detention and removal.
Dr Victoria Tecca, from the Modern Slavery Policy and Evidence Centre, said: “The Act denies protection to potentially thousands of people who arrived in the UK by irregular means.
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“In such cases, after being identified as a potential victim, rather than being protected, the Act orders people to be detained and removed from the country.”
The Salvation Army, which is supporting Anna, is one of the few organisations with legal authority to help victims of modern slavery.
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Data shared exclusively with Sky News shows that last year, 3,533 people were rescued by the charity alone, a rise of 5% on the previous year.
But it estimates that for every survivor that escapes, another seven people remain trapped in slavery.
The fear is that by threatening survivors with punishment, the new law will mean even fewer people come forward.
Major Kathy Beveridge, the Salvation Army’s director of anti-trafficking, said: “We want to ensure the government are aware of the implications of the policies they are developing at the moment.
“That somebody’s life will be affected if they don’t receive the support that they’re entitled to.”
Anna’s message is clear. She may have entered the UK illegally, but not willingly: “Being here, it’s my last desire, you know? I’m being forced here. I don’t want to stay here. I really need to stay here because I’m really in danger.”
She fears being deported would put her life at risk.
Under the terms of the Illegal Migration Act, individuals who receive a notice of removal could submit a claim that removal to their home country might pose them serious harm.
If that’s upheld, they might be removed to a third country, such as Rwanda, rather than their country of origin.
The Home Office said: “Modern Slavery is a barbaric crime and we provide support to thousands of victims each year.
“We are reforming our response to modern slavery to make the system more robust and ensure genuine victims are supported.”
Ministers have promised to publish guidance clarifying the law’s modern slavery provisions in due course.
‘The government has my life in their hands’
Until then, Anna’s future hangs in the balance. Our conversation turns to her hopes and dreams.
She said: “Well, in my dreams I would be where I left my life in Albania. Happy, nice, really happy. But right now I don’t know because the government has my life in their hands. If they decide that I will get the protection, then at least I will breathe for the next six months. I don’t know what to say beyond that.”
For people in Anna’s position, even dreaming is a luxury.
A £20,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the identification of the parents of three siblings found abandoned in London over eight years.
The Metropolitan Police said that despite more than 450 hours of CCTV being reviewed, the parents of the three children, known as Elsa, Roman and Harry, remain unidentified.
However, it is believed their mother has lived in an area of east London “over the past six years”.
Elsa was believed to be less than an hour old when she was found by a dog walker on 18 January last year, in East Ham, east London.
In the months that followed it was found that she had two siblings who were also abandoned in similar circumstances, in the same area of London, in 2017 and 2019.
On Saturday, police said the independent group Crimestoppers had offered a £20,000 reward for information passed to the charity, which will expire on 18 April.
Detective Inspector Jamie Humm, of the Met’s child abuse investigation team, said: “We have carried out extensive inquiries over the past year to try and locate Elsa’s parents.
“This has involved reviewing over 450 hours of CCTV and completing a full DNA structure of the mother.
“We have serious concerns for the wellbeing of the parents, especially the mother, and are continuing to work closely with Newham Council and appeal for the public’s help for information.
“I believe that someone in the area will have been aware of the mother’s pregnancies and that within the community there may be (or) have been concerns for this mother’s welfare.
“Thanks to the DNA work of forensic colleagues, police will be able to eliminate any unconnected person quickly and easily, as such I would ask you to contact police with confidence.”
Elsa was found wrapped in a towel in a reusable shopping bag, of which police have also released a new image, and was kept warm by the dog walker. She was uninjured.
Police said at the time that it was “highly likely” that she was born after a “concealed pregnancy”.
The BBC reported that at an initial court hearing, East London Family Court was told it took doctors three hours to record Elsa’s temperature because of the cold, and the Met Office said that temperatures dropped to as low as -4C on the night she was found.
Hospital staff named her Elsa in a reference to the character from the film Frozen.
The police investigation into the identity of the children’s parents continues, and anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or post @MetCC ref Operation Wolcott.
People can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously at any time on 0800 555 111 or via Crimestoppers-uk.org.
Fresh appeals have been made for information on what would have been the 20th birthday of Ellis Cox, who was shot dead in Liverpool last June.
A number of people have been arrested in connection with the murder at Liver Industrial Estate, but no one has been charged yet.
The 19-year-old’s family and police have paid tribute to him and called for those with information to come forward.
He was shot in the back after a confrontation between his friends and another group of up to three males on Sunday 23 June.
His mother Carolyn paid tribute in an appeal to coincide with what would have been his 20th birthday.
“He was so kind… so laid back, so calm, so mature for his age. And he was just funny. Very funny.
“He was my baby… no mum should have to bury a child. He was my life. And I don’t know what to do without him.”
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Meanwhile, his aunt Julie O’Toole said he was “the sort of person I think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone to say anything negative about. He was loyal, fiercely loyal… everything was about his family”.
To pay tribute to Ellis, Liverpool City Council will be lighting up the Cunard Building and Liverpool Town Hall in orange on Saturday.
Detective Chief Inspector Steve McGrath, the senior investigating officer, spoke about the information gathered so far, six months on from Mr Cox’s murder.
“I’m satisfied that the group that he was with was probably the target… and I would say that’s got something in relation to do with localised drug dealing in that area. But Ellis had no involvement in that whatsoever,” he said.
He added that police are looking for “really significant pieces of evidence now”, including “trying to recover the firearm that was used in relation to this, looking to recover the bikes that were used by the offenders”.
Former Manchester United and Scotland footballer Denis Law has died, at the age of 84.
In a statement, his family said: “It is with a heavy heart that we tell you our father Denis Law has sadly passed away. He fought a tough battle, but finally, he is now at peace.
“We would like to thank everyone who contributed to his wellbeing and care, past and much more recently.
“We know how much people supported and loved him and that love was always appreciated and made the difference.”
The Aberdeen-born footballer previously announced in August 2021 that he had been diagnosed with dementia.
A prolific striker, Law scored 237 goals in 404 appearances for Manchester United, for whom he signed for a then-British record transfer fee in 1962.
He is the only man to have two statues dedicated to him at Old Trafford – one on the Stretford End concourse, the other as part of the United Trinity statue overlooking the stadium’s forecourt beside fellow great George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton.
The only Scottish player to have won the Ballon d’Or award, in 1964, he was also part of United’s triumphant campaign in the 1968 European Cup – in which they became the first English club to ever win the competition.
In a statement, the club said: “Everyone at Manchester United is mourning the loss of Denis Law, the King of the Stretford End, who has passed away, aged 84.
“He will always be celebrated as one of the club’s greatest and most beloved players.
“The ultimate goalscorer, his flair, spirit and love for the game made him the hero of a generation. Our deepest condolences go out to Denis’s family and many friends. His memory will live on forever more.”
Wayne Rooney, former United captain and the club’s all-time record goalscorer, described Law as a “legend”.
“Thoughts with all Denis’s family and friends,” he said in an online post.
Another former United captain, Gary Neville, said: “A great footballer and a great man. It’s a privilege and an honour to have spent time in your company. The King of the Stretford End.”
A tribute from the Scotland national team said Law was “a true great”.
“We will not see his likes again,” it said.
Law also played for Huddersfield Town, Manchester City, and Italian club Torino during his club career, and made 55 appearances for Scotland, scoring 30 goals for his country.
Manchester City said in a post on X: “The whole of Manchester, including everyone at City, is mourning with you. Rest in peace, Denis.”