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Exploitation

Detention Taskforce briefing for House of Lords – Nationality and Borders Bill

December 2021

These two briefings by the Detention Taskforce raises concerns about the inclusion of clauses relating to victims of slavery in the Nationality and Borders Bill, as the Bill reaches its second reading and committee stage in the House of Lords. Measures dealing with identification and support for victims of crime do not belong within a Bill on migration and their inclusion risks muddling the two issues and undermining the Modern Slavery Act 2015.The Government claims it wants to end ‘abuse of the UK’s Modern Slavery System’ without any evidence of this ‘abuse’. It is our experience that the real issue is that individuals have been exploited but the current systems and structures prevent them challenging this treatment and seeking help. The briefings explain why the Nationality and Borders Bill will only worsen the situation, driving victims underground, increasing the numbers in immigration detention and playing into the hands of exploiters.