Theresa May writes in the Sunday Times that new law will target gangs trafficking people into slavery
Home Secretary Theresa May wrote in the Sunday Times yesterday that the government will introduce a new bill to target gangs trafficking people into slavery.
"It is scarcely believable that there is slavery in Britain, yet the harsh reality is that in 2013 there are people in this country forced to exist in appalling conditions and often against their will," May wrote.
According to the Huffington Post, May said vulnerable people from all over the globe are trafficked into Britain every day, and it was a profound shock to discover the extent to which slavery has reappeared in Britain.
May said the government's Modern Slavery Bill would create trafficking prevention orders, barring anyone convicted of a trafficking offence from gaining Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) membership.
According to the Sunday Times, those convicted of using abduction, threats or extortion to control slaves would face sentences of up to 14 years.
In addition, the Huffington Post reports that a modern slavery commissioner will be appointed to hold law enforcement and government bodies to account.
The Guardian noted that May said prosecution rates for human trafficking were still "shockingly low" across Europe and that an overhaul of the law was needed as there was still some uncertainty over which agencies should be tackling the problem.
BBC News reported that the new law would be introduced in this session of parliament.
In yesterday's article, May highlighted the desperate plight of young Vietnamese women who are trafficked to Britain after being deceived into thinking they will find well-paid jobs, only to be forced into prostitution or forced to work long hours for little or no pay in nail bars.