Fiona
Bruce MP continues to campaign against Modern Day Slavery
Fiona Bruce MP who has been working in
Parliament on the Modern Day Slavery Bill said:
“I would like to take this opportunity to
wish you a Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year, but I also thought you
might be particularly interested in the work the Government is doing to tackle
one of the most despicable of crimes - modern slavery.
One of the most important things I’ve
worked on this year is the Modern Day Slavery Bill, sitting on over 20
Committee session helping draft this Bill to combat the scourage of human
trafficking. This has been a real privilege.”
Modern slavery
is an international problem that requires cross-border action, but it is
happening in Britain today and the help of charities, local community
organisations and churches is also vital in raising awareness of this terrible
crime - and also in providing much needed support to the victims.
Recognising the
importance of stamping out this scourge on our society, the Government has
introduced a Modern Slavery Bill that will allow us to prosecute and lock up
the perpetrators and, equally importantly, support and protect the victims. It
also makes Britain the first country in the world to require large businesses
to make sure that they have checked that there is no slavery in their supply
chains, wherever they are.
Alongside the
Bill the Government's modern slavery strategy sets out how we expect government
departments, police and other agencies to tackle the crime and improve how we
identify and support the victims.
Fiona continued “One
of the most important aspects of this Bill is the ability it is giving to fine,
very heavily, the criminals who traffic people and to ensure that their
ill-gotten gains are used as compensations to help their victims re-build their
lives. The severity of punishment – up to life imprisonment – which this Bill
now has reflects the seriousness of this criminal activity which has the
potential to wreck young lives.”
Slavery may
seem far away but, dreadful though it is to say, it is estimated that there are
over 13,000 slaves in Britain today. We need the help of everyone in our local
communities to raise awareness of modern slavery and so help stop more
vulnerable people falling prey to those who seek to exploit them.
As we approach
the joyful Christmas festival I would be grateful if you would pass this
message on to as many people as possible in the community so that, together, we
can stamp out this evil.”
