10 years of the Modern Slavery Act: CARE calls for greater efforts to curb exploitation

The UK must “redouble its efforts” in the fight against exploitation, CARE has said, as parliament marks ten years of the Modern Slavery Act.

On Thursday, parliament is holding a general debate marking a decade of the groundbreaking legislation coming into force on 26 March 2015.

CARE was one of several charities that campaigned for the law, after helping to draft Northern Ireland’s dedicated anti-trafficking legislation.

Caroline Ansell, Director of Advocacy and Policy at CARE and the former Conservative MP for Eastbourne, commented:

“We applaud the legislative milestone and all those who have worked to end modern slavery in the past decade. The UK can be very proud of its efforts in this area. The Modern Slavery Act has radically transformed the way we identify and seek to help victims of trafficking and modern slavery and served as an example model for other nations around the world.

“Whilst we mark ten years of the Act being in force, we must also take stock of the challenge we face. There has been a year-on-year increase in the number of individuals being exploited through trafficking and modern slavery in the last decade. Today, it is estimated that there are around 130,000 victims of trafficking in the UK alone. This is a grim backdrop.”

Ms Ansell added:

“Vulnerable men, women and children are being exploited in various contexts across our society and those engaged in fighting this must redouble their efforts. We would call on the government to reassess the levels of service provision and funding in this area in light of a rising tide of exploitation. And we would encourage ministers to consider further, bold action.

“A key weapon in this fight is the so-called Nordic Model. Introducing laws to criminalise the buyer of sex targets the inequality, harm and exploitation that is at the heart of prostitution. And it directly challenges demand for trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation.

“MPs can usher in the Nordic Model during upcoming debates on the Crime and Policing Bill. We’d urge every parliamentarian to get behind this change.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors

Read a fact sheet on modern slavery produces by CARE’s policy team:

Modern-Slavery-Act-fact-sheet-CARE-March-2025.pdf

Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) is a social policy charity, bringing Christian insight to the policies and laws that affect our lives.

Contact us: press@care.org.uk