Policy Library

Summary:

On the 24 March 2021, the Home Office issued a consultation document ‘New Plan for Immigration’ which aims to reform the asylum system in the UK. It has the following three objectives:

1. To increase the fairness and efficacy of our system so that we can better protect and support those in genuine need of asylum.
2. To deter illegal entry into the UK, thereby breaking the business model of criminal trafficking networks and protecting the lives of those they endanger.
3. To remove more easily from the UK those with no right to be here.

The Modern Slavery Policy Unit prepared and submitted a response to the Government’s public consultation which seeks to answer the questions related to identifying and supporting modern slavery and human trafficking.

We welcome the Government’s commitment to tackling modern slavery but further refinement is needed on some of the proposals and care must be taken to avoid unintended negative impacts of asylum reform on identifying and safeguarding modern slavery victims.

This is our full response to the consultation focusing on the potential impact on modern slavery.

You can also find a brief summary of our key responses here.