Government introduce ‘Modern Slavery Bill’

Theresa May MP, the Home Secretary, has introduced  Modern Slavery Bill in Parliament.

The Bill is designed to tackle human trafficking and grants new powers to enforcement bodies to reduce this crime.

After intensive cross-party scrutiny the bill includes measures to:

• consolidate and simplify existing offences to make it simpler for law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to understand;

• introduce an Anti-slavery Commissioner to strengthen the law enforcement response and improve investigations, prosecutions and convictions;

• introduce slavery and trafficking prevention and risk orders to restrict the activities of those who pose a threat to others; and

• require public authorities to notify the NCA about potential victims of modern slavery to inform the operational response.

The Home Secretary will also be publishing an Anti-Slavery Strategy later this year.

Simon Kirby, MP for Kemptown & Peacehaven welcomed the introduction of the Bill.

He said: “I am pleased that the Government is taking strong action to stamp out modern slavery in Britain.

“Human trafficking is an awful crime and it is right that the Government is taking concrete steps to tackle it.

“People in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven will be concerned about modern slavery and I will support these measures to improve enforcement of existing laws and to provide greater support for victims.”