Charity leaders have written to the Home Secretary expressing concern about recent changes to modern slavery protections outlined in the government’s asylum and returns policy.
In their letter, CEOs of anti-slavery organisations, including Paul Bott, CEO of SJOG, state that aligning modern slavery legislation with immigration objectives could undermine the purpose of the Modern Slavery Act. They note that the National Referral Mechanism was designed to identify and safeguard victims of serious crime and support prosecutions against perpetrators, rather than serve as an extension of border control.
They encourage a number of actions to help protect people who need it most, as well as asking for the opportunity to meet to discuss how the UK can uphold both the integrity of the Modern Slavery Act and the government’s wider objectives.
Click here to read the letter in full, signed by 13 leading anti-slavery charities.