Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, on the Modern Day Slavery Bill, said

“There is cross-party consensus that we need new action to tackle modern-day slavery. And we welcome the limited moves in this Bill.

"But we would like to see the Bill go further - particularly to provide stronger legal protection for child victims. It is right to increase sentencing for traffickers and to make it easier to prosecute these heinous crimes and prevent repeat offending. But this Bill should also be an opportunity to end the suffering of slavery victims, particularly children, and I urge the Home Secretary to include include action in the Bill.

"It is appalling that two-thirds of children found by the authorities after being held as slaves go missing again because the system to protect them isn’t strong enough.

"Failed once by those who betrayed them into slavery, they are failed again by the state in not protecting them. Trafficked children should have access to a trusted and independent advocate, or guardian, who is legally responsible for them and their interests.

"There is a growing coalition of support behind this new policy, from the charities and frontline practitioners to campaigners in Parliament. We need tough action to stop traffickers, but prosecutions will fail, justice will be denied and slavery will continue unless there is more support for victims too.”