To ask the Attorney General, whether the Crown Prosecution Service has taken steps to examine how Modern Slavery legislation can be further used to (a) protect the public and (b) prevent the exploitation of vulnerable young men and women.

I am pleased to report that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has had considerable success in using Modern Slavery legislation to increase prosecutions of modern slavery cases involving the criminal and sexual exploitation of vulnerable young people.

Prosecutors work closely with law enforcement and give early investigative stage in all cases of modern slavery to build robust cases with the aim of lessening or removing the need to rely solely upon the evidence of vulnerable victims. The CPS will try to build victimless prosecutions where possible and has obtained convictions without reliance on the victim’s evidence.

The CPS will also, where possible, apply for Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Orders (STPOs) on conviction of a defendant. This enhances the court’s ability to place restrictions on individuals, ensuring that even after they have served their sentence any future risk of similar criminality is effectively managed. In cases involving unconvicted defendants, the CPS will also work with law enforcement agencies to obtain Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders (STROs) where there is a risk of harm to potential victims or to the public.