Summary
The Report recommends the following key steps to improve the draft Bill: (1) simplifying criminal offences so as to ensure more convictions; (2) putting the principles of victim care and services on a statutory footing and making it easier for victims to claim compensation; changes that are morally right, politically expedient and fundamental to effective prosecution; (3) recognising the special case of children by creating separate offences of exploiting and trafficking a child; making clear that children cannot consent to modern slavery; making provision for distinct child assistance and support; and establishing a statutory system of advocates; (4) ensuring that victims are not prosecuted for crimes they were forced to commit while enslaved; (5) strengthening the asset recovery regime to seize the illicit gains made from modern slavery; (6) ensuring independence for the Anti-Slavery Commissioner in order to establish the post as a focal point for galvanising the fight against modern slavery; and (7) taking steps to make sure that goods and services produced elsewhere but sold in the UK are free from the taint of slavery.