Modern Slavery Agreement
Our Commitment
Modern slavery is a violation of fundamental human rights as well as a crime. It takes various forms, such as slavery, forced and compulsory labour, servitude and human trafficking, all of which have in common the deprivation of a person’s liberty by another in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain.
Veritas Solicitors have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and we are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our own organisation, or in our supply chain.
We are committed to ensuring that we are transparent regarding our business practices, to ensure that:
Employees or contractors should report any activity that is or might lead to a breach of this policy, whether internal or external, to the Compliance Department. You should inform your line manager straight away if you are concerned that activity is taking place which would amount to a breach of this policy. Line Managers must contact and report this issue immediately. The Compliance Department will then engage with the relevant parties in order to investigate and take any appropriate action.
Employees/contractors can also raise any concerns confidentially by emailing pete.graham@veritassolicitors.co.uk. If an employee/ contractor is unsure about whether certain behaviour might constitute modern slavery, guidance is available from Compliance.
An employee or contractor who engages in any activity which is tantamount to modern slavery or human trafficking will face disciplinary action, which could result in dismissal for misconduct or gross misconduct. Where appropriate, we may also report the activity to the relevant authorities.
If a supplier manager is approached by a supplier with a concern regarding modern slavery in our supply chain, they should contact pete.graham@veritassolicitors.co.uk immediately. If the Compliance Department becomes aware of any potential issues with a supplier as a result of a notification from a supplier or as a result of our due diligence and audit checks, this will be raised with the supplier manager and the Compliance Officer for Legal Practice, for a decision to be taken regarding our continued dealings with the supplier. Where appropriate, action will be taken, which may include notifying the relevant authorities and the removal of the supplier from our list of approved suppliers.
We encourage openness within our business, and Veritas Solicitors will support anyone who raises genuine concerns in good faith under this policy, even if they turn out to be mistaken.
Our Employees
If an employee has any questions regarding our recruitment and employment processes or wishes to raise any issue or concern with the HR team, they should contact AR@veritassolicitors.co.uk or follow the steps outlined in the Whistleblowing Policy.
Our Supply Chain
We expect the same high standards and zero tolerance approach to modern slavery from all of our contractors, suppliers and other business partners. As part of our supplier due diligence processes, Veritas Solicitors will:
If a supplier has any questions regarding our systems and controls in place in relation to supplier due diligence, audit and our terms of business, our supplier managers are asked to direct them to pete.grahamt@Veritas Solicitors.co.uk.
Communication and Training
Training on Financial Crime Prevention is mandatory for all new employees, and is rolled out across the business annually. Other training and/ or communications will be issued as necessary.
Our zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery is communicated to all suppliers, contractors and business partners at the outset of our business relationship with them, as part of our terms of business and will be reiterated as appropriate thereafter.
This statement is updated annually and sets out the steps we take to prevent slavery and human trafficking within our business and in our supply chain.
Reporting Suspected Breaches
The prevention, detection and reporting of modern slavery in any part of our business or supply chains is the responsibility of all those working for us or under our control.
Employees or contractors are required to report any activity that is or might lead to a breach of our policy, whether internal or external, to the Compliance Department emailing pete.graham@Veritas Solicitors.co.uk. The Compliance Department will then engage with the relevant parties in order to investigate and take any appropriate action.
Employees or contractors can also raise any concerns using the reporting mechanisms set out in our Whistleblowing policy, which provides for the anonymous reporting of concerns. If an employee or contractor is unsure about whether certain behaviour might constitute modern slavery, guidance is available from our Compliance Department.
An employee or contractor who breaches our policy and engages in any activity which is tantamount to modern slavery or human trafficking will face disciplinary action, which could result in dismissal for misconduct or gross misconduct. Where appropriate, we may also report the activity to the relevant authorities.
If a supplier manager is approached by a supplier with a concern regarding modern slavery in our supply chain, they are required to contact pete.graham@Veritas Solicitors.co.uk immediately. If the Compliance Department become aware of any potential issue with a supplier as a result of a notification from a supplier or as a result of our due diligence and audit checks, this will be raised with the supplier manager and the Compliance Officer for Legal Practice, for a decision to be taken regarding our continued dealings with the supplier. Where appropriate, action will be taken, which may include notifying the relevant authorities and the removal of the supplier from our list of approved suppliers.
We encourage openness within our business, and Veritas Solicitors will support anyone who raises genuine concerns in good faith under this policy, even if they turn out to be mistaken.
Home Rescue is a trading style of Veritas Solicitors Limited Liability Partnership registered in England and Wales with registration number OC332899. Veritas Solicitors are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under SRA number 472036 www.sra.org.uk