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Modern Slavery Bill 2014

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Legal background       

8 The intention to introduce a Modern Slavery Bill was announced by the Home Secretary on 25th August 2013. The Home Secretary subsequently announced a series of evidence sessions to gather information to support pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Bill, led by Frank Field MP. A report from the evidence sessions was published on 16th December. A draft Bill was published on 16th December and was the subject of pre-legislative scrutiny, with the Joint Committee publishing its report on 8th April. To ensure the Bill is also informed by international best practice and the challenges faced in key source and transit countries, Anthony Steen, Chair of the Human Trafficking Foundation, was also commissioned as the Home Secretary’s special envoy to report back on a series of international visits.

9 In January 2014 the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery produced a report in which it was stated:

Reference:    Inquiry into the collection, exchange and use of data about human trafficking and modern slavery 

" The existence of an independent Anti-slavery Commissioner, with the power to direct policy and record-keeping, and to obtain information from government departments and agencies, will help to focus the work on support for victims, and thus more effective prosecution and deterrence of traffickers and exploiters.

We urge the government to consider extending the remit of the Anti-slavery Commissioner more widely than that currently envisaged in the draft Modern Slavery Bill, placing equal emphasis on effective support for victims and on effective prosecution of traffickers and exploiters. Both are needed to succeed in the fight to eradicate modern slavery and human trafficking."
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Prepared 30th April 2015