This is a Policy Report on Priorities which aims to inform the new UK Government’s response to modern slavery. This Report, produced by the Policy Impact team at the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre, draws on analysis and research funded and produced by the Centre, wider evidence and data, and our experience of engaging with lived experience experts.

The issue

The scale of modern slavery identified across the UK is continuing to increase and modern slavery leads to significant harms for people and communities affected by it, and wider society. Modern slavery, with its many different forms of exploitation, is a complex challenge, interconnected with wider policy areas and issues, such as inequality, immigration and labour market enforcement. Addressing modern slavery requires a systemic, long-term and holistic cross-Government response, with more focus on prevention, given the many different root causes and drivers of vulnerability to exploitation.

The response

The new Government is faced with a challenging policy agenda on modern slavery, but there are significant opportunities for the Government to provide a renewed, ambitious, joined-up and prevention-centred UK policy response to modern slavery.

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