"Letters to the Editor: Firms exploiting slaves will be found out"

A letter by Dame Sara Thornton, the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, features in The Sunday Times commenting on an earlier story "Tesco charity cards 'packed by China's prison slaves'".

"Letter to the Editor: Firms exploiting slaves will be found out" (The Sunday Times, 29/12/19)

Your front-page story "Tesco charity cards 'packed by China's prison slaves'" (News, last week) illustrates the insidious way slave labour exists in the supply chains of the most benign products - in this case, charity Christmas cards designed for children to give to children.

Retailers have developed global supply chains to source products at a good price - but that price may be based upon the exploitation of others.

The response to modern slavery and human trafficking requires international and national co-operation. The National Crime Agency targets the most sophisticated gangs but most slavery and trafficking is happening in local police forces. 

You can read the full letter here.