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Complex Safeguarding Wales

National Referral Mechanism

When a young person is suspected of being a victim of child criminal exploitation, a referral can be made to the National Referral Mechanism.

The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is the process used to decide whether a young person has been a victim of modern slavery and trafficking. The referral can be made by the police, local authorities, and some voluntary organisations. This ensures that young people receive appropriate protection and support.

Ten steps of the NRM

1. NRM criteria

A Section 45 defence can be used for criminal activities, including:

  • trafficking
  • modern slavery
  • theft
  • growing cannabis
  • sexual exploitation
  • immigration

2. Making a referral

Referrals are made by first responders. This includes the police, Children’s Services, Barnardo’s, and the NSPCC.

3. Which first responder?

Young people may be reluctant or unwilling to talk to the police. They may also worry that they will be arrested, or taken into local authority care. Another first responder may be a more appropriate first point of contact.

4. General indicators

The application form for the National Referral Mechanism includes 20 general indicators. The first responders’ referral should include warning signs, unexplained injuries, concerning relationships with older peers or adults, or specific events, such as going missing.

5. Completing the application

Decisions are made on the basis of the information submitted. All agencies involved in the referral must share everything they know about the young person.

6. Single Competent Authority

Cardiff and Newport are part of a pilot study looking into whether NRM decisions should be made at the local level, rather than centrally in London. They have the power to receive NRM referrals and decide their outcomes.

7. Receipt of the referral

The first responder who made the referral will receive a reference number that can be used to include additional information as it emerges.

8. Notifying the police and Children’s Services

When an NRM referral is made, the police should be notified, as the young person may have been a victim of crime. A referral should also be made to the local authority’s Children’s Services.

9. Timescales

The NRM panel aims to make a decision within 5 working days.

10. Outcomes

Negative decision

You can appeal a negative decision in two ways:

  1. Reconsideration: A first responder or practitioner can ask the competent authority to look at the evidence again or to include new evidence in their decision-making.
  2. Judicial review: The young person can ask the court to review the decision.

Positive decision

Positive decisions include:

  • Reasonable grounds, where modern slavery is suspected but cannot be proven.
  • Conclusive grounds, where it is more than likely that the young person has been a victim of modern slavery.

A positive NRM decision should lead to better outcomes for the young person, as services should safeguard rather than criminalise them.

Even when your child receives a positive decision, there is still a risk if the exploiters think your child has avoided prosecution through ‘snitching’. You should work with services to ensure that you and your child are protected from negative repercussions and continued exploitation.