£33m Boost For Efforts To Tackle Modern Slavery

An extra £33m is being put into the Government's battle against modern slavery.

Prime Minister Theresa May said the money would go into blocking the routes taken by those involved in the people trafficking trade in countries like Nigeria.

Mrs May is also launching a new taskforce which will coordinate the Government's response to slavery.

Officials believe there are between 10,000 and 13,000 slavery victims in the UK.

A total of 289 offences of modern slavery were prosecuted in 2015, according to a review by barrister Caroline Haughey.

She also found there was a 40% rise in the number of victims referred for support.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has been asked to look into how police are responding to attempts to prosecute more people alleged to be involved in slavery offences.

Mrs May said: "This Government is determined to build a Great Britain that works for everyone and will not tolerate modern slavery, an evil trade that shatters victims' lives and traps them in a cycle of abuse.

"Last year I introduced the world-leading Modern Slavery Act to send the strongest possible signal that victims were not alone and that those responsible for this vile exploitation would face justice.

"We must do more and the historic £33.5 million funding will allow us to go even further to support victims.

"Alongside this, the Haughey and HMIC reviews send a clear message that the criminal justice system must ensure that perpetrators have nowhere left to hide.

"I am pleased to see progress but we will not stop until slavery is consigned to the history books."

Ms Haughey, who has prosecuted a variety of servitude, slavery and human trafficking cases, is among those who believe more can be done.

She said: "One year on (from the Modern Slavery Act), law enforcement agencies are using the powers in the Act and the number of prosecutions and of victims supported has increased.

"But this is a generational fight to protect the vulnerable and voiceless and I believe we need to do more."