Recommendation 10

We welcome the Home Office’s appointment of a new Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (IASC) and look forward to inviting her to speak to us as soon as possible, to understand how she intends to prioritise the prevention of human trafficking—including tackling demand, the prosecution of offenders and the protection of victims. However, it is unacceptable and appears to be, at least in spirit, a breach of the statutory duty that there has been no IASC in post for a year and a half, during which time key legislative changes have been made and levels of public discourse around modern slavery have been high. Furthermore, there was no good reason for the delay in this appointment. The role of the Commissioner is crucial not only because of the Government’s statutory obligation to have an IASC in post, but also because it provides an essential, independent voice that is vital in the current political debate about human trafficking and modern slavery in the UK.