The Modern Slavery Agenda: Policy, Politics and Practice

Craig, Gary · Balch, Alex

Jan 2019 · Policy Press

About this eBook

Modern slavery, in the form of labour exploitation, domestic servitude, sexual trafficking, child labour and cannabis farming, is still growing in the UK and industrialised countries, despite the introduction of laws to try to stem it. This hugely topical book, by a team of high-profile activists and expert writers, is the first to critically assess the legislation, using evidence from across the field, and to offer strategies for improvement in policy and practice. It argues that, contrary to its claims to be ‘world-leading’, the Modern Slavery Act is inconsistent, inadequate and punitive; and that the UK government, through its labour market and immigration policies, is actually creating the conditions for slavery to be promoted.

About the author

Gary Craig is a Visiting Professor at the Law School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne and at the University of York. He previously worked as a community development activist. He has researched and published widely in the fields of ‘poverty, ‘race’ and ethnicity and modern slavery; He co-convenes the national network Modern Slavery Research Consortium. Alex Balch is Professor, Department of Politics, University of Liverpool. He is also Associate Head of School for Research and Impact and Co-Director, the Centre for the Study of International Slavery. He has researched and published widely on forced labour, migration, support for survivors and on the organizational systems in the UK such as the GLAA and Border Agency. Dr Hannah Lewis is Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, at the University of Sheffield. Her research interests include community and social relationships, migration and refugee studies; immigration and asylum policy; forced labour and ‘modern slavery’, faith and anti-trafficking; and the ethics and methodologies of research with migrant populations. Her work has been published in many journals and she has contributed to three books. Louise Waite is Professor of Human Geography at the University of Leeds, UK. Her research interests focus on discourses of ‘modern slavery’, unfree/forced labour and exploitative work among asylum seekers and refugees. She has published in a range of peer reviewed journals and in recent collaborative books

Gary Craig is a Visiting Professor at the Law School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne and at the University of York. He previously worked as a community development activist. He has researched and published widely in the fields of ‘poverty, ‘race’ and ethnicity and modern slavery; He co-convenes the national network Modern Slavery Research Consortium. Alex Balch is Professor, Department of Politics, University of Liverpool. He is also Associate Head of School for Research and Impact and Co-Director, the Centre for the Study of International Slavery. He has researched and published widely on forced labour, migration, support for survivors and on the organizational systems in the UK such as the GLAA and Border Agency. Dr Hannah Lewis is Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, at the University of Sheffield. Her research interests include community and social relationships, migration and refugee studies; immigration and asylum policy; forced labour and ‘modern slavery’, faith and anti-trafficking; and the ethics and methodologies of research with migrant populations. Her work has been published in many journals and she has contributed to three books. Louise Waite is Professor of Human Geography at the University of Leeds, UK. Her research interests focus on discourses of ‘modern slavery’, unfree/forced labour and exploitative work among asylum seekers and refugees. She has published in a range of peer reviewed journals and in recent collaborative books