The Modern Slavery Act has become law following a recommendation made by the Centre for Social Justice in its 2013 report, It Happens Here.

The Act received Royal Assent exactly two years after the CSJ called for it to become part of UK legislation, and is the latest of several CSJ modern slavery recommendations already adopted by the Government.

The groundbreaking CSJ report, It Happens Here, found that victims of modern slavery were being exploited including through forced labour, domestic servitude and sexual exploitation. This appalling crime is under-reported and perpetrators are rarely brought to justice. Modern slavery is often hidden from view in towns and communities across the country.

As a result of this research the CSJ made more than 80 recommendations to the Government for how the UK could step up its fight. A video of the launch of the report can be viewed here. Creating a blueprint for action, the CSJ report received widespread media coverage including in The Sunday Times, The Observer and the BBC. The CSJ also wrote for The Times and blogs for The Spectator, here and here.

A key recommendation in the CSJ’s report was that a Modern Slavery Act be passed to replace confusing legislation which was holding the UK back from effectively tackling the problem.

This headline recommendation was accepted by the Home Secretary in summer 2013, and following this the CSJ was asked by the Home Secretary to host the Modern Slavery Bill Evidence Review, with MPs including Sir John Randall and the Rt Hon Frank Field, as well as Baroness Butler-Sloss.

In spring of 2014 the CSJ’s Senior Researcher Lucy Maule acted as Specialist Adviser to the Modern Slavery Bill Committee. In June 2014, the CSJ appointed former Special Adviser to Theresa May, Fiona Cunningham, as Associate Director for Modern Slavery.

The Modern Slavery Bill was introduced into the House of Commons in June 2014 before passing through all stages.

At the time of its introduction, Theresa May praised the CSJ as inspiring her to create the new legislation. She said:

"The CSJ’s work on modern slavery inspired me to put forward a new Modern Slavery Bill that will soon become an Act. It will ensure Britain once again leads the world in the fight against this crime.”

As well as bringing the disparate laws on modern slavery and human trafficking under one Act and simplifying them, the Modern Slavery Act also establishes in statute the role of the Anti-Slavery Commissioner.

The CSJ recommended that this role be created to galvanise action on modern slavery across the UK and hold to account key agencies including the police, social services, government and the voluntary sector.

The UK’s first Anti-Slavery Commissioner was appointed in November 2014, and the CSJ will continue to work closely with this office.

The Modern Slavery Act also contains a landmark clause on transparency in business supply chains. This was again recommended in the CSJ’s report, as a way to encourage businesses to make efforts to ensure that their supply chains are free of modern slavery.

A statutory defence for victims of modern slavery is also included in the new Act, as recommended by the CSJ. During its research the CSJ found that too many victims of modern slavery were being criminalised for crimes they were forced to commit as a result of their enslavement. These may include immigration, drug or prostitution offences. The statutory defence will help protect such victims from prosecution and conviction, ensuring instead that they are offered support.

The new Modern Slavery Act is a significant step forward in the fight against this appalling crime.

Timeline of the Modern Slavery Act:

March 2013 – It Happens Here is published by the CSJ

August 2013 – The Home Secretary commits to putting forward a Modern Slavery Bill

September 2013 – The CSJ is asked to host the Evidence Review for the Modern Slavery Bill, alongside Rt Hon Frank Field MP, Sir John Randall MP and Baroness Butler-Sloss.

December 2013 – Report of the Modern Slavery Bill Evidence Review is published to inform the Home Secretary on the Draft Bill

January 2014 – CSJ acts as Specialist Adviser to Joint Select Committee on the Modern Slavery Bill

March 2015 – Modern Slavery Bill is passed