Taskforce sets out action to tackle modern slavery online

Tuesday, 27 February 2018 22:30

The Modern Slavery Taskforce, created by the Prime Minister Theresa May, will meet on Wednesday to discuss how the internet is increasingly enabling this barbaric crime – and the action needed to address it.

Sexual exploitation currently accounts for around half of all modern slavery occurring in the UK, with criminal gangs exploiting the internet to advertise victims on adult service websites.

The Prime Minister will receive an update on prosecutions and the multi-agency work underway by the National Crime Agency, police, security services, immigration enforcement and others, alongside the latest use of cutting edge technology to identify sexual exploitation on the internet.

This includes work by the National Crime Agency, Cabinet Office, and data specialists from across government, who are currently trialling the use of innovative data analytics to uncover more victims of modern slavery.

By analysing internet sites which could be used to advertise modern slaves, this technology identifies ways in which offenders are operating online to exploit trafficked victims.

Although still in its infancy this approach has already provided investigative leads in both the UK and overseas and will allow agencies to better target operational activities and bring more perpetrators of this horrendous crime to justice.

Speaking ahead of the meeting the Prime Minister Theresa May has reiterated her call for internet companies to do more in this area.

This includes using their own technology to seek to identify and remove adverts or websites linked to trafficking.

The Prime Minister said:

“Modern slavery destroys the lives of some of the most vulnerable in our society. All too often we see criminal gangs coerce people with false promises of a better life, only to treat their victims as commodities for sexual exploitation.

“What is clear is that the internet is giving them the space to do this, and enabling these barbaric crimes.

“As I set out in my speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, internet companies cannot stand by while their platforms are used to facilitate child abuse, modern slavery or the spreading of terrorist and extremist content.

“As the hosts of user-generated content internet companies can and should be doing more to prevent trafficking-related material from appearing on their platforms.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1. In 2016 the Prime Minister announced a new Modern Slavery Taskforce, which sits at the centre of Government, to drive further progress in tackling slavery and people trafficking.
2. Attendees at Wednesday’s meeting include:

The Prime Minister (Chair)
Home Secretary, Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Rt David Gauke MP
Attorney General, Rt Hon Jeremy Wright QC MP
International Development Secretary, Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP
Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office, Oliver Dowden CBE MP
Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Kevin Hyland
Joint Intelligence Committee
National Security Secretariat
National Crime Agency
Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority
Interpol
Metropolitan Police

3. The term ‘modern slavery’ subsumes the offences of human trafficking, slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour, including sexual or criminal exploitation.
4. The UK is the first country in the world to have dedicated legislation in place to tackle modern slavery.
5. With the introduction of the Modern Slavery Act in 2015 we have ensured law enforcement agencies have the tools they need to tackle this sickening crime.
6. Internationally we have successfully lobbied for the establishment of the first ever UN Sustainable Development Target to end modern slavery, and are working to embed this within the international system.

7. Last September the Prime Minister pledged to double the UK Government's aid spend on modern slavery to over £150 million, including £33.5m worth of ODA money for programmes in countries where we see a high number of victims in the UK.