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Office of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner
Dame Sara Thornton DBE QPM is the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. Part 4 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 created the role of the Commissioner.
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)

Anti-Slavery Partnership Toolkit

The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s (IASC) office, in collaboration with the Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham, has launched an online toolkit to help local organisations and agencies work better together to tackle modern slavery. You can view the toolkit here: https://iasctoolkit.nottingham.ac.uk/#

 

 

Statutory Agencies

The Commissioner has a UK-wide remit to encourage good practice in the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of modern slavery offences. 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 | 09 August 2019
35 potential victims of human trafficking safeguarded in UK following cross-Europe operation
The National Crime Agency has today released details of a week-long operation targeting modern slavery across the UK and Europe.
News | 08 August 2019
"INTERVIEW-Too many modern slaves left in limbo, warns new UK anti-slavery chief"
Dame Sara Thornton speaks to Thomson Reuters Foundation on the need for sound and timely decision making.
News | 31 July 2019
IASC Blog: Raising awareness of human trafficking
Yesterday was the United Nations World Day against Trafficking in Persons which aims to raise the awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and the promotion and protection of their rights. Having completed three months as Commissioner it...
News | 23 July 2019
"Criminals can’t claim they were trafficked, says anti-slavery tsar"
Dame Sara Thornton speaks to The Times on statutory defence: “I intend to ensure the system protects the most vulnerable, while we also root out those that seek to take advantage of protections designed solely for victims”
News | 17 July 2019
Governments must do more to achieve SDG 8.7 - Walk Free
The ‘Measurement, Action, Freedom’ report, launched today by Minderoo Foundation’s Walk Free initiative, finds more needs to be done to spur action and hold governments to account through an agreed set of measurement indicators on all forms of modern slavery.
News | 09 July 2019
Dame Sara Thornton Statement: Government response to the Independent Review
The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Dame Sara Thornton, has commented on the Government response to the Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act.

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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