Contact us
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.

45,800,000
people live in slavery today
(Global Slavery Index 2016)
13,000
potential victims of slavery are in the UK
(Home Office 2014)
21,000,000
people are victims of forced labour
(ILO 2012)

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 | 23 July 2017
More than 100 child refugees missing in UK after being smuggled from Calais
The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner speaks to The Independent on unaccompanied minors who have travelled to the UK illegally and have gone missing, potentially exploited by traffickers and slave masters. You can read the full article here.  
News | 06 July 2017
Sharp rise in British children being sexually exploited by human traffickers
With a 100% increase in the number of potential British child victims of modern slavery referred for assistance last year, the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner spoke to The London Economic on the need to improve support and treat modern slavery as...
News | 03 July 2017
Commissioner visits Lithuania to boost anti-slavery efforts across borders
In June 2017, the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner travelled to Vilnius to explore how the UK can better work with Lithuania in the fight against modern slavery. The Commissioner travelled as part of a delegation alongside His Eminence Cardinal...
News | 29 June 2017
Religious leaders call to make Australia 'slavery-proof'
Last month the Commissioner joined faith leaders in Australia to explore Australia's adoption of similar legislation to that of the UK's Modern Slavery Act 2015. Religious leaders collectively called for action.   Read the full article: Religious...
News | 22 June 2017
Slavery is a weak link in corporate supply chains
The Financial Times explores how companies are potentially failing to prevent modern slavery in their supply chains. While some businesses have disclosed the problems they have identified, others have more to do to comply with the Modern Slavery...
News | 22 June 2017
Anti-Slavery Commissioner speaks at the Lowy Institute
In May 2017 the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Kevin Hyland OBE, travelled to Australia to meet with ministers, businesses, charities and faith groups to discuss the implementation, success and challenges of the UK’s Modern Slavery Act. Click...
© 2017 Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner
Follow the Commissioner
Quick Exit