To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to address concerns that the Modern Slavery Bill in its current form does not provide compensation for victims of modern slavery.
Answered on
10 March 2015
The Government takes the issue of compensation for victims of modern slavery very seriously. That is why the Modern Slavery Bill introduces a new kind of bespoke Reparation Order which will enable the courts to ensure that more money from convicted slave drivers goes directly to their victims. Where the perpetrator has assets available, as evidenced by a Confiscation Order, the court will have to consider making a Reparation Order to provide reparation to the victim for the harm that they have suffered and give reasons if it does not.
The Modern Slavery Bill will also make both modern slavery offences - slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour and human trafficking - "criminal lifestyle" offences. This will mean those that commit these heinous crimes are subject to the most robust confiscation regime available under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.This will help law enforcement and the courts recover assets from these criminals and so should increase the money collected and available to be distributed to victims.