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Birmingham gets a further £1m to tackle migrant exploitation

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Author:TheBusinessDesk.com

The Controlling Migration Fund has awarded £1m to Birmingham City Council over the next two years to help to tackle the exploitation of vulnerable migrants by rogue landlords in the city’s private rented sector.

Over the past decade there has been significant new migration into Birmingham from both EU accession states as well as increased numbers of asylum seekers, and this has put pressure on the city’s services, especially relating to housing.

The Council will spend this money on an intelligence led task force working to protect the victims of modern day slavery and child sexual exploitation from further suffering at the hands of any rogue landlords. People in these categories are vulnerable, unfamiliar with the UK, often unaware of their rights, and without access to help, and easy prey for unscrupulous landlords.

To combat this menace, the task force will concentrate on three priority areas: tackling rogue and criminal landlords, better informing communities and supporting individuals who are at high risk.

Cllr Tristan Chatfield, cabinet member for social inclusion, community safety and equalities, said: “Birmingham is a City of Sanctuary  and is proud of the warm welcome it extends to people from all corners of the globe, regardless of their situation. This new funding will enable us to support migrants arriving and settling in the city, tackling issues they are potentially vulnerable to, as well as the impact migration has on local communities and services.”

The funding also includes £100,000 over two years for Local Authority Asylum Support Liaison Officers to work with refugee communities in the city, as part of a joint initiative between the Home Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Source: http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2018363-birmingham-gets-1m-tackle-migrant-exploitation

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