Farron welcomes Modern Slavery Bill

South Lakes MP Tim Farron, has welcomed the Modern Slavery Bill, which had its Second Reading in the House of Commons this week.

This is an issue Tim has actively campaigned on, regularly pressing Government Ministers to act. The Modern Slavery Bill contains significant new measures to ensure that victims are better supported and protected, not only to recover from their terrible ordeal, but also to support effective investigations and prosecutions. Specifically, the Bill will do this by:

• ensuring that victims are not prosecuted for crimes they commit as a direct consequence of their trafficking situation;
• ensuring that victims can receive reparations from their trafficker or slave master, for the abuse and suffering they have experienced;
• providing statutory guidance to first responders and front-line professionals on how to identify potential victims and access relevant support services.

Tim said: "Human trafficking is an abhorrent crime which robs families of loved ones. I welcome the Government's determination to see this Bill passed as soon as possible, so perpetrators can be convicted sooner and we can begin to eradicate this crime for good."