Human trafficking and modern slavery – Government action

UK Government actions:

• In April 2022, the Nationality and Borders Act received Royal Assent. It includes changes to the identification and protection of, and support for, victims of trafficking and modern slavery, including provisions to disqualify an individual from protection on the grounds that the individual is a threat to public order or has claimed to be a victim in bad faith.
• In November 2021, the UK Government published an updated modern slavery statement 2020/21, setting out its efforts to eradicate modern slavery across its supply chains and spending measures.
• In October 2021, the UK Government published its Annual Report on Modern Slavery. The report noted that a review of the Modern Slavery Strategy for England and Wales was underway. This is the latest in a series of modern slavery annual reports that began in 2017.
• In June 2021, the UK Government committed to establishing a single enforcement body for employment rights.
• In March 2021, the Home Office launched an online modern slavery statement registry to allow organisations to share the steps they have taken to tackle modern slavery.
• In January 2021, the UK Government announced a new inspection programme of services for victims of modern slavery, led by the Care Quality Commission.
• In January 2021, a new Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract went live in England and Wales, to provide enhanced, tailored support to adult victims of modern slavery.
• In March 2020, the UK Government published statutory guidance for England and Wales on identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery, in accordance with section 49(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, with further updates made throughout 2021/22.
• In 2020, the UK Government established a National Referral Mechanism (NRM) Transformation Programme to address the challenges faced by the current NRM system.
• In September 2019, the UK Government launched the recovery needs assessment process to provide adult confirmed victims of modern slavery with support to recover from their exploitation.
• In July 2019, the UK Government launched a consultation on transparency in supply chains. In its consultation response, published in September 2020, the UK Government committed to a number of measures to tackle modern slavery in supply chains, including legislative changes to bring certain public bodies within reporting requirements on modern slavery.
• In July 2019, the UK Government announced a £10 million investment to create a new Policy and Evidence Centre for Modern Slavery and Human Rights, with the aim of enhancing understanding of modern slavery and further strengthening the UK’s response.
• In September 2018, the UK Government announced an Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act. The final report of the Independent Review, published in May 2019, included 80 recommendations for the UK Government, some of which were accepted and some subject to further consultation.
• In October 2017, the UK Government announced a number of reforms to the NRM, including the creation of an expert unit to handle all cases referred from frontline staff, an independent panel of experts to review negative decisions and a new digital system to capture and analyse data.
• In October 2017, the UK Government announced an increase in the minimum period of ‘move on’ support – such as accommodation, counselling, expert advice and advocacy – for recognised victims of trafficking and modern slavery from 14 to 45 days.