Over 550 MPs were contacted by the public to urge them to support the Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill, it was reported in February.
Currently the Bill is stuck in the House of Lords. It needs the government to give it a time slot to be debated there before it can pass to the next stage.
The law in England and Wales means that, once they are formally identified as victims of modern slavery, they are given 14 days of support. However, after this many victims end up homeless, destitute and vulnerable to being re-trafficked.
Numbers suffering
The Bill would provide up to 12 months of support for those who have been exploited.
The National Crime Agency estimates that there are currently 10,000 – 13,000 victims trapped in modern slavery in the UK. But this may be the tip of the iceberg.
