Anti-slavery commissioner warns traffickers ‘will seek every opportunity to abuse new immigration policies’

By Flora Thompson, Reporter20th February 2020News EnglandGovernment / Politics, Immigration, Modern Slavery, News England, Trafficking, Vulnerable Adults

The anti-slavery commissioner has warned traffickers will “seek every opportunity to abuse new immigration policies” after the Government announced proposed changes to the system.

Dame Sara Thornton (pictured) said the protection of vulnerable people needed to be “front and centre of the debate” on the alterations.

Her comments come after the Government’s policy paper setting out the new points-based immigration system, which is due to come into force next year if laws are passed, said: “Importantly we remain committed to protecting individuals from exploitation by criminal traffickers and unscrupulous employers.”

Dame Sara said: “In setting out this new system for migrants and with an Immigration Bill on the horizon, the Government is bringing in significant changes to the entry routes for migrants in a range of sectors.

“We must be alive to the fact that traffickers will seek every opportunity to abuse new immigration policies and so the protection of vulnerable people needs to be front and centre of the debate.

“I welcome the Government’s commitment to protect ‘individuals from exploitation by criminal traffickers and unscrupulous employers’ and I will be closely monitoring the impact these policy changes have on trafficking and exploitation in the most insecure sectors, particularly agriculture, hospitality and construction.”