In a statement, released this morning, government revealed key areas of focus for the review will be developing an understanding on the nature of modern slavery offences, the provisions around legal access and compensation to victims and improving the support given to child victims.

Current legislation requires every business with an annual turnover of £36m and over to publish a statement on its website detailing actions to prevent and tackle modern slavery in its operations and supply chain. But another key focus of the review will be looking at what more can be done to strengthen these rules and minimise the risk that the goods and services available in the UK are produced through forced labour and slavery.

In addition to today’s announcement, the Home Office has also confirmed a £2m extension of the Independent Child Trafficking Advocates (ICTAs) scheme, which works with trafficked children to ensure their best interests are met in any decision-making by the public authorities involved in their care.

There are currently three sites trialling the scheme in Greater Manchester, Hampshire and Wales – working in partnership with Barnardo’s – with more to be added from autumn 2018, starting with the West Midlands. 

According to the government, the move now means one third of local authorities in England and Wales will have an ICTA service in place by April 2019. Government adds an interim report will be published on the ICTA service, which has been running in early adopter sites since January 2017.

The Home Office’s announcements coincide with publication of its own research, which estimates the economic and social damage of modern slavery is costing the UK upwards of £4.3bn a year.

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