A new fact sheet by After Exploitation and Hibiscus explores the criminalisation of survivors of modern slavery. The briefing explores ways to better ensure victim-survivors can be identified and supported, both inside and outside of the criminal justice system.
The research draws on data and interviews, including statistics obtained by After Exploitation and openDemocracy showing that hundreds of people incarcerated in UK prisons year are recorded as having indicators of modern slavery. The most commonly disclosed type of offence relating to potential survivors in prison are drug-related (n=368) despite the documented link between exploitation and the drug trade, including county lines offending.
The report also explores challenges within sentencing. Delays to the publication of the Sentencing Council’s new guidance on pre-sentence reports (PSRs), due to political pressures, is hitting survivors of modern slavery who continue to be prosecuted due to relevant information in their cases (such as personal circumstances) not being considered. Marginalised groups and women are disproportionately impacted by a rise in prison sentences, creating a perfect storm of victim-survivors made doubly vulnerable by discrimination and experiences of exploitation.
After Exploitation 