The South East Strategic Partnership for Migration (SESPM) provides a leadership, co-ordination and advisory function for migration in the South East. SESPM is hosted by South East England Councils, with all SESPM work funded by the UK Borders Agency.

Objectives for 2011-12 include:

• Supporting and leading services to address the challenges and maximise the opportunties of migration
• Monitoring and reporting migration trends in the South East
• Delivering a collective South East voice to inform and influence national and local policies
• Building strong cross-sector partnerships to deliver SESPM priorities.

Read the full SESPM business plan for 2011-12, including sections on the partnership's objectives and migration statistics.  Our 'Introduction to SESPM sheet' also gives an overview of our work areas and current partners.

In addition to responding to Government proposals and consultations, SESPM also commissions occasional research on topical migration issues. Visit our SESPM research page for more details including recent work on skills gaps developing as a result of the cap on non-EU migrant workers. 

Stopping Human Trafficking - free seminars

In spring 2012 SESPM is organising a series of four free seminars to help public sector staff and other relevant workers recognise the signs of human trafficking so they can take action to stop it. Read an overview of the seminar aims.

Organised in conjunction with charity STOP THE TRAFFIK, the seminars are aimed at local authority officers, social workers, community police, health, education, housing, probation, immigration and community workers. Links below give more details of each event and overview slides give headlines from key topics covered.

• 9 March, Southampton (10am-1pm)
• 16 March, Horley (10am-1pm)
• 19 March, Canterbury (2pm-5pm)
• 26 March, Oxford (9.30am-12.30pm)

Recent consultations and responses

Financial thresholds for sponsors - October 2011

SESPM has been invited to respond to consultation by the Migration Advisory Committee on establishing minimum income thresholds for people sponsoring spouses, partners or dependants moving to the UK. The aim is to ensure sponsors are able to support new immigrants so that they do not become a burden on the state.

Read the letter requesting views then send comments to roymillard@secouncils.gov.uk by 20 October 2011 to inform a South East wide response from SESPM. 

Legal aid & migration - views submitted to Parliament

In August 2011 SESPM submitted views to the House of Commons Public Bill Committee on the Legal Aid, Sentencing & Punishment of Offenders Bill. On behalf of South East local authorities SESPM has raised concerns about the impact that legal aid changes will have on immigration cases.

During summer 2010 SESPM worked with local authorities and service providers to gather information to feed into the committee. SESPM circulated an overview briefing and summary of proposals and asked councils to complete to respond by 15 July 2011.  

The work of SESPM is funded by the UK Borders Agency. For more information on South East Strategic Partnership for Migration contact Roy Millard at South East Councils - roymillard@secouncils.gov.uk 01304 872186.