IASC Bulletin

Dear colleagues,

This bulletin provides a snapshot of the work that my office has been involved with since I started in role as the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. 

It has been a busy start to my role. I started by travelling around the UK to visit with front line services and hear the challenges they face. I have also talked to survivors of modern slavery so that I can understand first-hand the breadth of their experiences of the modern slavery system and make sure they are reflected in everything I do. I have appeared before the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee and the House of Lords Modern Slavery Act 2015 Committee to give evidence on the work of my office, the functioning of the Modern Slavery Act, my intentions over the next three years and what more needs to be done to combat the heinous crime of modern slavery. 

In April, I submitted my Strategic Plan, which sets out my priorities for my time as Commissioner, to the Home Secretary. Thank you to all of those who contributed to the consultation for the Plan, particularly those with lived experience who shared their invaluable expertise. The announcement of the General Election has meant that its publication has unfortunately been delayed, but I hope the Plan will be published as soon by the Home Office. In the meantime, I will continue to drive forward the work laid out in the Plan which focuses on Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and has two underpinning themes of improving knowledge and understanding of modern slavery and including survivors’ voices and expertise. 

Against the backdrop of a General Election, fears amongst victims of modern slavery over how recent immigration legislation might affect them, and inheriting an office that was dormant for 20 months, I am resolved to raise the profile of modern slavery in the UK to ensure victims of modern slavery receive the support they need, and perpetrators of this horrendous crime are brought to justice. 

I look forward to keeping you all updated with regular instalments of this bulletin.

Eleanor Lyons
Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner

Work of the office 

The IASC contributed to a report by The Centre for Social Justice and Justice & Care called ‘Criminal exploitation: Modern slavery by another name’ following a study into criminal exploitation in the UK as a form of modern slavery. This report calls for a tougher response to criminals who exploit the vulnerable. Access the report here.

The Commissioner welcomed a report by the University of Nottingham Rights Lab and ECPAT called ‘Prevention and identification of children and young adults experiencing, or at risk of, modern slavery in the UK’. This report calls for every child and young person to be able to grow up safe from exploitation and abuse and be provided with support that meets their individual needs. Access the report here.

The IASC has also been grateful to be given several opportunities to speak at events like The Salvation Army’s ‘Slavery to Freedom’ Spring Forum and at Unseen’s Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline Annual Assessment to share her insights and priorities over her three-year term.

Engaging with Government across the UK 

The IASC gave evidence to the House of Common’s Home Affairs Select Committee in February and the House of Lords Modern Slavery Act 2015 Committee in March. These sessions covered the prevention of exploitation of vulnerable people, improving identification and support of potential victims of modern slavery, increasing prosecutions for perpetrators, and improving our knowledge and understanding of modern slavery and human trafficking. 

The IASC has met with key stakeholders across Government and devolved administrations to raise the profile of modern slavery. This included the Minister for Europe Nusrat Ghani MP (pictured right), Minister for Safeguarding (Laura Farris MP), the Home Office Permanent Secretary (Matthew Rycroft), the Minister for Victims and Community Safety in Scotland (Siobhian Brown MSP), the then Deputy Minister for Social Partnerships in Wales (Hannah Blythyn MS) and the Minister for Justice for Northern Ireland (Naomi Long MLA). 

Most recently, the IASC attended a roundtable hosted by the Home Secretary and the Minister for Safeguarding on ‘Violence Against Women and Girls’.

Influencing legislation



The IASC has also taken opportunities to influence legislation. The IASC ensured that the duty to collaborate guidance supporting the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 includes modern slavery and the IASC has been named as a statutory consultee as part of this legislation.  

The Commissioner is keen for more attention to be paid to modern slavery in the business sector. To this end, the IASC met with Baroness Young of Hornsey (pictured right) to discuss her Private Member’s Bill which would have mandated human rights due diligence by UK business and public authorities, bringing greater scrutiny to their supply chains. The IASC has also been working with Department of Business and Trade Ministers and officials to push for this change.

Meetings and visits across the UK

 

The Commissioner has greatly valued the input of victims of modern slavery and those with lived experience. The IASC has heard directly from survivors in a series of roundtables, these included Hestia’s Empowered Voices forum (pictured right), and MS PEC’s and the University of Nottingham Rights Lab’s Lived Experience Advisory Panels. Alongside this, the IASC has visited safe houses and worked with those with lived experience to make sure their needs are at the heart of the office’s work.
 
The Commissioner is keen to understand the challenges faced by the police and criminal justice system in prosecuting perpetrators of modern slavery and has met with Graeme Biggar, Director General of the NCA, colleagues from the Crown Prosecution Service, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and colleagues from the Tackling Organised Exploitation Programme and the Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime units.

To understand the important role health practitioners can play in identifying potential victims of modern slavery, the IASC has met with key figures in healthcare such as the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Chris Whitty.