Unseen’s letter to the Home Secretary – add your name
This petition is now closed.
Dear Home Secretary
The Government must stop dragging its feet over a new Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner
It has now been 12 months since the UK has had an Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, a UK-wide role with a remit to “encourage good practice in the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of modern slavery offences and the identification of victims.”
As an anti-slavery organisation, we are writing to express our serious concern that the appointment of a new Commissioner has been left to drift for so long.
This is particularly worrying in the current climate, where changes to legislation and policy will make the identification of modern slavery victims more difficult and will prevent them from accessing the right support.
As we pass the milestone of one year without a Commissioner, we are calling on the Government to urgently appoint someone credible to this post.
The new Commissioner needs to:
- Be truly independent to work unhindered by political interference.
- Encourage good practice to drive an increase in the identification and protection of victims of modern slavery, and to ensure the provision of enhanced support for all victims and survivors in the UK.
- Drive effective prevention of slavery and human trafficking offences.
- Promote an improved law enforcement and criminal justice response to modern slavery across the UK.
- Engage with the private sector and promote policies to ensure that supply chains are free of slavery.
Victims of modern slavery are some of the most vulnerable in society and will have experienced all manner of horrors, from forced labour to being trafficked for sexual exploitation.
They deserve a dedicated and respected individual who understands the reality of modern slavery and can act as their champion. Having someone in this role is not only a legal requirement. It is also the mark of a civilised country.
Andrew Wallis OBE, Unseen CEO
On behalf of Unseen and its supporters
What you can do
There are two easy things you can do to support the campaign:
1) Sign our letter and add your voice to the growing number of people who want a new Commissioner appointed urgently. We will present our letter to the Home Office, and the more names we have behind it, the louder our message will be. Every signature counts.
2) Don’t stop there, share the letter on social media using the hashtag #StopTheDelay and invite your friends and family to join us in this campaign.
(Note: we will not share your details with the Home Office.)
Thank you
