Meet Dame Sara Thornton QPM - The New Independent Anti Slavery Commissioner

Tuesday 16th July

6.30pm - 7.45pm followed by drinks (Registration from 6pm)

54 Doughty Street, London, WC1N 2LS

In the second of our Business and Human Rights Roundtables for 2019 we are delighted to invite you to a meeting with the new Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Dame Sara Thornton QPM.  The role of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner was created as one of the provisions of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, with the aim of encouraging good practice in tackling modern slavery and trafficking. Dame Sara, a police officer with over 30 years experience and who was the first Chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council, came into post on the 1st May 2019. She and her team are expected to:

• encourage good practice to drive an increase in the identification and protection of victims of modern slavery, and to ensure the provision of enhanced support for all victims and survivors in the UK;

• drive effective prevention of slavery and human trafficking offences;

• promote an improved law enforcement and criminal justice response to modern slavery across the UK;

• engage with the private sector and promote policies to ensure that supply chains are free of slavery;

• foster constructive and targeted international collaboration to combat modern slavery.

The last year has seen the reform of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for the identification of victims of trafficking, and the Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act led by Frank Field MP. The meeting and discussion provides one of the first opportunities to hear and discuss with Dame Sara these initiatives, and to hear her plans for the coming three years. 

After Dame Sara has spoken, and to get our discussions underway, Zoe Harper of Doughty Street (a barrister who represents victims of trafficking) will offer some thoughts on potential pitfalls in the new NRM process.  And Peter Carter QC (who advised Parliamentarians on the passage of the Modern Slavery Act and who has been advising the Field Review) will explore the anti-trafficking impact of proposed increases in corporate liability under the Modern Slavery Act.
 

FACILITATORS:
Chair: Krishnendu Mukherjee, Doughty Street Chambers

Dame Sara Thornton QPM
Zoe Harper, Doughty Street Chambers
Peter Carter QC, Doughty Street Chambers

To reserve your place, or if you have any questions, please email events@doughtystreet.co.uk