Although the UK is internationally recognised as a leader in the fight against modern slavery, the prioritisation of immigration enforcement over safeguarding is creating mistrust in public agencies and services. This prevents those experiencing exploitation from seeking help and working with enforcement agencies to stop perpetrators. In the UK, victims of exploitation are being arrested, detained and even removed without access to much-needed support, facing re-traumatisation and a worsening of their physical and mental health as a result.
We work with the Labour Exploitation Advisory Group (LEAG), the Taskforce on Victims of Human Trafficking in Immigration Detention, and with labour market and law enforcement agencies to ensure that all workers can safely report labour abuse and that no victim of trafficking is detained under immigration powers.
