Starting with the positives: 

Enhanced tools for law enforcement are very welcome. We hope this will include strengthening and extending the use of civil Slavery and Trafficking Prevention and Risk Orders. These orders have the power to prevent exploitation by restricting offenders’ activities when imposed after conviction or when risks are identified. However, research suggests they are underutilised and poorly monitored which limits their effectiveness.  

We would like the government to amend the Modern Slavery Act 2015 so these orders are mandatory on conviction and available for a wider range of modern slavery-related offences.   

Child victims are especially vulnerable. We are hopeful the measures proposed will support the ongoing process to make independent child trafficking guardians available to support child survivors across the whole of England and Wales. The Government has also successfully trialled giving local multi-agency teams within local authorities responsibility for formally identifying child victims. We would like to see this rolled out more widely under the plans for more effective identification of children. 

But now the areas of concern: 

Conflation with immigration and emphasis on misuse of protections will trap victims in exploitation. Modern slavery is a serious crime and a violation of human rights. We regret that the Government has put modern slavery measures in the Immigration and Asylum Bill and is focussing on potential risk of abuse of the system. This continues the flawed approach of previous governments.  

There is no evidence of widespread misuse of the modern slavery system and only six bad faith cases were recorded in 2025. There are checks and balances built into the system that mean inappropriate cases can be identified.  

Exploiters use the threat of deportation to control their victims. By prioritising border control rather than safeguarding survivors, there is a serious risk that victims will be too afraid to seek help and remain trapped in exploitation. 

Barriers to support will put survivors at risk and hinder prosecutions. The details of the changes have not been announced yet, but it seems likely the intention to ‘clearly set out the Government’s obligations, enabling it to address potential misuse’ will lead to a narrowing of access to support and protection for survivors.  

By limiting support to certain groups of survivors, many will be deterred from coming forward to seek help and continue suffering in silence. Without assistance, survivors of exploitation will face mental and physical health challenges and be at risk of homelessness and destitution increasing the chances of re-exploitation.  

Moreover, we know at Justice & Care how vital support is to enable survivors to participate in the criminal justice process. When survivors cannot access support, they are unable to engage with prosecutions, so exploitation flourishes and offenders act with impunity. This low-risk and high-reward environment for perpetrators is a risk for us all. 

What is missing? 

The Government did not give any indication that it intends to introduce greater corporate accountability for addressing modern slavery.  

Under the Modern Slavery Act large companies must publish statements detailing the action they have taken on modern slavery in their operations and supply chains. However, there is no obligation on businesses to take meaningful action to prevent, identify and respond to modern slavery.  

What is really needed is standalone legislation for corporate responsibility as we at Justice & Care, and notable bodies such as parliament’s Joint Human Rights Committee and the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner have previously recommended. 

This law should establish legal obligations on companies to act what is known as ‘mandatory human rights due diligence’ and separately prevent goods produced with forced labour entering the UK market through import controls. 

A way forward 

Justice & Care and other organisations last month published a strategic 10-year roadmap calling the Government for reforms focusing on corporate accountability, criminal justice, survivor-centred recovery, and child protection to eradicate modern slavery in the next 10 years. This legislation is a chance to make this a reality but currently misses that opportunity.  

We have joined forces with a number of other anti-slavery charities to call on Ministers and MPs to change course and revise the new law to prioritise safeguarding survivors and prosecuting those who abuse them.