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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 | 15 August 2018
New report finds low compliance with Modern Slavery Act in UK agricultural sector
New analysis by the University of Nottingham's Rights Lab in partnership with the office of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner finds poor performance in the UK agricultural sector against the 'transparency in supply chains' provision of the Modern Slavery Act.
News | 03 July 2018
Joint Statement Calls on Government for Central Modern Slavery Registry
Along with 35 businesses, organisations and individuals, I am today publishing a joint statement calling on the government to establish a central registry for corporate modern slavery statements.
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.

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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