Diane Abbott responds to the rise of victims in trafficking and modern slavery

Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to a rise in victims of trafficking and modern slavery, said: 

“The sharp increase in the number of victims of these terrible and brutal crimes under this government is disgraceful. Conservative cuts to police numbers have damaged their ability to protect some of the most vulnerable people in our society. The government needs to get a grip on the true scale of the problem. 

“It is also vital that we continue to cooperate internationally to combat modern slavery and people trafficking in all its forms. If we leave the EU without a deal, it will severely hamper the work with other forces that help identify the victims of human trafficking and prosecute the perpetrators.”