10. Short Debate: The exploitation of immigrants to the UK by immigrant criminal gangs — Postponed from 8 November

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:36 pm on 15 November 2017.

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Photo of Julie James Julie James Labour 4:36, 15 November 2017

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. The criminal exploitation of people, whether they come from outside of the UK or were brought up here, is slavery. The Welsh Government has a long-standing and consistent commitment to combating slavery and addressing the suffering it causes for victims.

I was extremely distressed at the tenor of the tone, and at some of the—I'm sorry to say—made-up statistics that were read out by the person proposing this short debate. I would invite him, if he has not done so already, to visit a prison in my locality, where he will certainly see that most of the inmates there are certainly not from outside the UK. There are large numbers of other issues around imprisoning people, which he should be very familiar with, given his background.

Of course, immigrants will be amongst those engaged in this vicious trade, but there are very many—[Interruption.] You can't intervene in a short debate.