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)

More about Modern Slavery

The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner's five priorities:

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 & 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 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

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

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.

Recent News & Insights

News | 18 June 2018

Government must use the power of public procurement to tackle slavery

Public procurement is a powerful tool in the fight against modern slavery but the UK government is not yet using it strongly enough.

News | 11 June 2018

Eradicating recruitment fees is crucial for tackling modern slavery

The eradication of recruitment fees is crucial to reducing modern slavery and protecting vulnerable migrant workers. Today, I support the businesses and other organisations gathering in Singapore this week for the 2018 Global Forum on Responsible Recruitment and Employment.

News | 30 May 2018

Joint investor action on corporate modern slavery statements

The Commissioner has written a joint letter with investors totalling assets under management of £817 billion to FTSE 100 companies which failed to comply with the Modern Slavery Act.

News | 17 May 2018

Ending my tenure as Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner

Today I have announced my resignation as the UK's first Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner.

News | 11 May 2018

New mapping of support services for survivors of modern slavery

The Human Trafficking Foundation is undertaking a mapping exercise of the support services available to survivors of modern slavery throughout the UK.

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...

See all News and Insights

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.

Latest Tweets

@UKAntiSlavery

My call on govt to use the power of public procurement to tackle #ModernSlavery has been covered by @cipsnews; I hope many procurement professionals will feel encouraged by my support of anyone taking action on this issue who is buying goods & services: https://www.cips.org/en-GB/supply-management/news/2018/june/ban-firms-from-public-contracts-if-not-compliant-with-slavery-law/ …

I am supporting @LolaHornsey's Private Members Bill seeking to extend transparency in supply chains to public bodies. Read why here: http://www.antislaverycommissioner.co.uk/news-insights/government-must-use-the-power-of-public-procurement-to-tackle-slavery/ …

Companies which fail to meet the requirements of the #ModernSlaveryAct should not be able to win public contracts if we want public procurement to help fight #slavery: http://www.antislaverycommissioner.co.uk/news-insights/government-must-use-the-power-of-public-procurement-to-tackle-slavery/ …

It is time for govt to strengthen enforcement of section 54 of the #ModernSlaveryAct by ensuring companies which do not comply are barred from winning public contracts: http://www.antislaverycommissioner.co.uk/news-insights/government-must-use-the-power-of-public-procurement-to-tackle-slavery/ …

Public procurement is a powerful tool for tackling #modernslavery but the UK govt must do more to ensure it plays its part - my new article live now: http://www.antislaverycommissioner.co.uk/news-insights/government-must-use-the-power-of-public-procurement-to-tackle-slavery/ …

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