“Councils have been at the forefront of the work to tackle the issue of modern slavery, from prevention through to the provision of support to victims."
Responding to the announcement, Chair of Local Government Association’s Safer Stronger Communities Board, Cllr Nesil Calliskan, said:
“Councils have been at the forefront of the work to tackle the issue of modern slavery, from prevention through to the provision of support to victims. The introduction of measures to further reduce modern slavery in supply chains and set out the obligations for support provision for victims is a positive step.
“With rapidly increasing numbers of victims, the LGA supports the inclusion of plans to enshrine in law, the legal obligations to victims of modern slavery, especially regarding their rights to assistance and support. However, to ensure these obligations are able to be fulfilled in full, we urge government to provide funding where duties fall on councils, as councils have never received new burdens funding to support their work with victims of modern slavery.”