The prime minister has described modern slavery as a “barbaric evil” and “the great human rights issue of our time”. As home secretary she sponsored the Modern Slavery Act 2015, which confirmed that human trafficking, knowingly holding a person in slavery or servitude or compelling him or her to perform forced labour all comprise offences. Victim consent may not prevent a crime being committed. 

Theresa May’s former department has launched an independent review of the legislation. In parallel, evidence on its impact is being heard in the Commons by the home affairs committee, which watches over the Home Office’s work.

Recent events may explain this sudden post-legislative scrutiny. This spring, the independent anti-slavery commissioner departed. Kevin Hyland’s resignation letter complained of repeated Home Office interference. At the same time, the media has excoriated the weak extent of compliance with section 54 of the act by businesses operating in the UK. This obliges those supplying goods or services with a global turnover of more than £36m to declare actions taken to achieve supply chain conformity.

“Construction clients and tier-one contractors invariably lose visibility of their subcontractors’ workforces further down the supply chain”

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