6 February 2025

The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill was introduced in Parliament on 30 January 2025. It focuses primarily on border security and asylum reforms, but importantly also proposes reversing many of the clauses in the Illegal Migration Act relating to victims of modern slavery, as well as the Safety of Rwanda Act 2024. 

 

Patrick Ryan, Chief Executive of Hestia said:

“We strongly welcome the Government’s proposal to reverse most of the clauses in the Illegal Migration Act 2023 which relate to the removal of protections for victim-survivors of modern slavery. Making these changes will safeguard victims from being unjustly punished for the crimes committed by their perpetrators. 

“We also believe there is a further opportunity - by repealing clause 29 - to ensure survivors who have been forced to commit crimes as a direct result of their exploitation are not unfairly penalised. As we approach the 10-year anniversary of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, now is the time to reestablish the UK as a world leader in the fight against this brutal crime and we welcome the Government’s steps to achieve this.”

 

Alison Logier, Director of Modern Slavery at Hestia added:

“This is a huge win for all the survivors we support at Hestia. In 2023, we joined with fellow support organisations and parliamentarians to call for these clauses to be removed from the Illegal Migration Bill, so we are pleased to hear that the Government has acknowledged this.”