The government has published new statutory guidance for England and Wales on the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA 2015). The guidance is aimed at staff in England and Wales within public authorities who:
- May encounter potential victims of modern slavery.
- Are involved in supporting victims.
- Make decisions on whether an individual is a potential victim of modern slavery for the purpose of the National Referral Mechanism.
The guidance sets out the support available to victims and the process for determining whether someone is a victim.
On 26 March 2020, the government published a statement setting out how it is tackling modern slavery in its supply chains. The statement assesses the risk of modern slavery across around £50 billion of the government’s annual spending. The government acknowledges that thousands of UK businesses are currently required to publish annual modern slavery statements and indicates that its own statement is intended to lead the way for the public sector.
Link to the new guidance is available here : Home Office: Modern Slavery Act 2015 – Statutory Guidance for England and Wales, Version 1.0 (March 2020)
