Tackling Modern Slavery Conference 2025: Reinvigorating Strategies for Prevention, Identification, and Victim Support
Past and Present Supporters Include
Overview
Despite the efforts made through frameworks like the Modern Slavery Act of 2015, the 2024 report from the Modern Slavery Act Committee warns that the UK is falling behind in its progress to prevent modern slavery. Economic challenges and global displacement have contributed to the prevalence of modern slavery in the UK. It is essential that there is awareness of the many, evolving forms modern slavery can take, how to spot these, how to intervene and how to support survivors across all areas of employment that may be vulnerable to forms of modern slavery.
5,540 potential victims of modern slavery were referred to the Home Office from October to December 2024, representing a 17% increase compared to the previous quarter (4,755) and a 34% increase from October to December 2023 (4,131). Despite the number of reported incidences, 122,000 people are predicted to be living in modern slavery (Walk Free, 2023).
Join us at the Tackling Modern Slavery Conference 2025, where policymakers, law enforcement, NGOs, and community organisations will share their insights on tackling modern slavery. You will hear national updates on government approaches to modern slavery, best practice examples for preventing exploitation, and effective strategies for providing essential support to victims.
Agenda
Registration
Chairs Opening Remarks
Keynote: Updates on the Modern Slavery Landscape
- Outlining the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner strategic plan and the importance of integrating lived experience into anti-slavery policies
- Understanding legal frameworks under the 2015 Modern Slavery Act
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Guidance on implementing an approach that focuses on Prevention, Protection and Prosecution
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Understanding the impact of international activity on modern slavery in the UK
Dame Karen Bradley MP, Chair of APPG on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery (invited)
Keynote: Spotting the Signs
- Guidance on recognising key physical and psychological signs that someone may be a victim of modern slavery
- Understanding how these signs may manifest differently in children or those with additional vulnerabilities
- Outlining the role that gender plays in victims experiences of modern slavery
- Best practices for reporting concerns without putting yourself or the potential victim at risk
Keynote: Forced Labour and Unethical Supply Chains
- Understanding the context of forced and bonded labour in modern-day slavery including the Inquiry into Forced Labour in UK Supply Chains
- Addressing key challenges in detecting and eradicating these forms of exploitation
- Recognising the most at risk groups of people and the most at risk sectors of work
- Guidance on how to implement effective measures to protect people from forced labour
Professor Olga Martin-Ortega, Professor of International Law, University of Greenwich (invited)
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Case Study: Protecting People Against Forced Marriage
- Understanding the role that culture and honour-based abuse may play in forced marriage and dealing with this sensitively
- Strategies for collaborating with community organisations, schools, and faith groups to raise awareness about forced marriage and create a supportive environment for those at risk
- Effective intervention strategies when forced marriage is suspected
- The importance of cross-border collaboration in preventing forced marriage
Case Study: Protecting People Against Domestic Servitude
- Outlining the different forms domestic servitude may take and how to spot this
- Understanding how traffickers exploit vulnerable individuals, deceiving victims into accepting domestic work
- Outlining the role that domestic abuse may play in someone becoming a victim of domestic servitude and the difficulties of spotting signs of modern slavery within the home
Representative invited, West Yorkshire Police (invited)
Case Study: Online Sexual Exploitation
- Understanding the tactics used by traffickers and exploiters to target vulnerable individuals via the internet
- Strategies for preventing online sexual exploitation including equipping parents, caregivers, and professionals with the tools to recognise early signs of grooming
- Outining the importance of data-sharing agreements, online monitoring, and law enforcement tracking digital footprints
- Best practice for reporting online sexual exploitation and ways to improve collaboration between online platforms, law enforcement, and NGOs to reduce harm
Questions & Answers
Lunch
Case Study: Protecting Vulnerable Populations: Immigration and Modern Slavery
- Understanding the complexities migrants may face as vulnerable individuals who may not speak English, fear deportation and lack knowledge about their rights and where to seek help
- Outlining the ways that restrictive immigration policies, lack of legal protections, and the criminalisation of migrants can increase their vulnerability to exploitation
- Creating safe spaces for immigrants to report exploitation without fear including providing culturally sensitive services and ensuring access to legal support and protection
Case Study: Criminal Exploitation: County Lines
- Understanding cannabis selling as a gateway to debt bondage
- Outlining the role that neurodiversity plays
- Understanding the role that social media may play in recruitment strategies
- Identifying signs of county lines recruitment and intervening early-on to grooming and exploitation
- Strategies for engaging with young people who may be at risk while keeping them safe from harm
Dr. Simon Harding, Director, Criminology Services (CONFIRMED)
Questions and Answers
Keynote: Utilising Technology to Stop Human Trafficking
- Understanding technology as both part of the problem and part of the solution
- Guidance on creating coalitions between tech companies, law enforcement, government, and NGOs to share resources and knowledge
- Using AI to analyse traffickers online activity and surveillance footage
STOP THE TRAFFIK (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: Post-rescue Support
- Building holistic care for survivors of modern slavery that addresses the long-term needs of survivors
- Using co-production to create a survivor-centered approach to recovery that addresses physical, mental, and social well-being
- Outlining the complex support needed including legal services, help with applying for compensation, accessing immigration support, and pursuing criminal cases against perpetrators
- Strategies for ensuring coordination between different agencies, including law enforcement, local authorities, health services, and NGOs
- Guidance for ensuring survivors don’t become drawn back into modern slavery
Justice and Care (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Utilising AI to Facilitate Successful Survivor Support – The RESTART Project
Session tbc
Dr Julia Muraszkiewicz, Head of Programme Against Exploitation and Violence, Trilateral Research Ethical AI (CONFIRMED)
Matthew Young, Research, Participation and Policy Manager, Causeway Charity (CONFIRMED)
Questions and Answers
Chairs Closing Remarks
Conference Close
Previous Speakers
Professor Laura Murphy
Professor of Human Rights and Contemporary Slavery
Sheffield Hallam University
James Fookes
UK and Europe Advocacy Manager
Anti-Slavery International
Victoria Wilde
National Modern Slavery Tactical Advisor/Subject Matter Expert
National Crime Agency
Robyn Philips
Director of Operations
Human Trafficking Foundation
Testimonials
“Excellent, informative and for those of us working in this sector essential attendance”
“An informative and interesting training event. The trainers clearly have lots of knowledge and experience, and understood many of the challenges faced by victims and professionals who are trying to support them”
“Informative, well presented and a must for all with an interest in MDS”
“Very informative to be given a wider overall view of Modern Slavery with experts in their field presenters”
Why you Should Attend
Why Attend?
✓ High level keynotes on the latest policy including identifying and reporting modern slavery and utilising data-informed approaches to tackle modern slavery
✓ Listen and learn from case studies from leading experts in developing and delivering services for slavery victims
✓ Networking opportunities with speakers and colleagues from across the public sector
✓ 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota
Who Should Attend
| Job Title Examples | Organisation Examples |
| DI/ DS/ DCIs | Local Council |
| Safeguarding Officers/Heads of Safeguarding | Police |
| Social Workers | Local and National Charites |
| Case Worker | Central Government |
| Councillor | Victim Support Services |
Pricing Options
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Point
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Sponsorship
Raise your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact us HERE
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access (coming soon)
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below:
