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Spearheading the UK’s fight against modern slavery
Kevin Hyland OBE is the UK’s first Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. The Commissioner’s role was created as one of the key provisions of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
About the Commissioner

What is modern slavery?

Modern slavery is an umbrella term encompassing slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour and human trafficking. Victims of modern slavery are unable to leave their situation of exploitation, controlled by threats, punishment, violence, coercion and deception. Slavery violates human rights, denying people of their right to life, freedom and security.

40,300,000
people live in slavery today
(ILO & Walkfree Foundation 2017)
13,000
potential victims of slavery are in the UK
(Home Office 2014)
151,600,000
children are victims of child labour
(ILO & Walkfree Foundation 2017)

The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner's five priorities:

Victim care logo
Victim Identification & Care
To drive improved identification of victims of modern slavery and enhanced levels of immediate and sustained support for victims and survivors across the UK.
Law enforcement logo
Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice
To promote an improved law enforcement and criminal justice response across the UK, to support development and adoption of effective training and to increase awareness across relevant statutory agencies.
Private sector logo
Private Sector Engagement
To engage with the private sector to promote policies to ensure that supply chains are free from slavery and to encourage effectual transparency reporting.
Partnerships logo
Partnerships
To identify, promote and facilitate best practice in partnership working and to encourage improved data sharing and high quality research into key issues.
International collaboration logo
International Collaboration
To encourage effective and targeted international collaboration to combat modern slavery.

Statutory Agencies

The Commissioner has a UK-wide remit to encourage good practice in the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of modern slavery offences. In order to achieve his aims the Commissioner works directly with statutory agencies, who have a duty to co-operate with the Commissioner as set out in the Modern Slavery Act.
NHS
Police
Local Authorities
Immigration Agencies

Recent News & Insights

News | 17 April 2018
UK anti-slavery activities – complete our survey
A short online survey has been launched to better understand the work being done by UK anti-slavery and anti-trafficking civil society organisations. The survey is part of a new report by the Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham. The report will...
News | 11 April 2018
Using research to end modern slavery
Slavery is a serious crime affecting millions worldwide and thousands here in the UK – for it to be stopped, experts need to know what research is available to inform the anti-slavery fight. For the first time, this is possible.   A new report published...
News | 09 April 2018
Help us build a partnership toolkit
In partnership with the Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham, in 2017 the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner launched research looking into modern slavery partnerships across the UK. Together with the Rights Lab, the Commissioner is now...
News | 06 April 2018
UK Government Suppliers’ Slave-Labor Disclosures Found Lacking
Following publication of the Sancroft-Tussell report titled "Eliminating Modern Slavery in Public Procurement" the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner speaks with the Wall Street Journal on concerns regarding compliance with the Modern Slavery Act. You...
News | 05 April 2018
Taking action on slavery in the private sector
With 16 million of the estimated 40 million people currently in slavery conditions working within the private sector, it is vital that business plays its part in tackling modern slavery and human trafficking. As such, the private sector is one of my five...
News | 29 March 2018
New project will explore exploitation in hand car washes
A new collaborative study between the Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham and the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (IASC) will look at labour exploitation in hand car washes.

What do I do if I think someone is a victim of modern slavery?

If you think someone is in immediate danger, please call the police on 999. In order to protect the potential victim, do not attempt to inform them of your actions.

If you think someone is a potential victim but there is no immediate threat to life, please call the local police on 101.

You can also call the Modern Slavery Helpline on 0800 0121 700 24 hours a day.

If you have information you wish to give anonymously and confidentially you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

See the ‘Resources’ page for more detailed guidance on how to refer a victim of modern slavery for support.

 

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