UK urged to sharpen anti-slavery law to target business and help children
Crime minister says the government will respond to recommendations to improve the first-of-its kind law passed in 2015 but whose implementation has been very slow
London — Punishing businesses that fail to tackle modern slavery, providing better support for child victims, and holding the government to account topped the agenda in a review on Wednesday intended to improve Britain’s landmark anti-slavery legislation. Hailed as a leader in the global drive to end slavery, Britain passed the 2015 Modern Slavery Act to jail traffickers for life, better protect vulnerable people, and force large companies to outline their actions to avoid using forced labour. Yet the government tasked MPs last July with reviewing the law due to concerns the country was struggling to keep up to speed with the evolving crime as new investigations have risen rapidly, along with the number of victims. A lack of convictions, limited awareness among and training of professionals, and problems around data collection have blunted Britain’s anti-slavery response, the report said. “Without these changes, the Act’s impact will be limited,” said former ministers Frank Field, ...
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