Improving the Evidence Base on Modern Slavery Offenders in the UK

• In Event: Roundtable: International Crime

Abstract

The UK passed the Modern Slavery Act in 2015. The UK Modern Slavery Strategy, published in November 2014, sets out the UK’s approach to tackling modern slavery and human trafficking. The Strategy recognised the importance of improving knowledge and understanding of the criminals who commit modern slavery crimes. A review of the existing literature and data was carried out which confirmed that there was very limited evidence from the UK or other countries on modern slavery offenders and crimes. This paper will discuss an approach to fill some of the evidence gaps. The research concentrated on exploitation in the UK and qualitative research was carried out with practitioners tackling modern slavery in three local areas. The paper will discuss the merits of drawing on the in-depth knowledge and experience of local practitioners.

Author

• Olivia Hesketh, Home Office