Tougher anti-slavery laws to be published

Robust legislation designed to punish human traffickers will be published later today, the Home Office has said.

Proposals include extending the maximum punishment from 14 years imprisonment to a maximum life sentence.

The Modern Slavery Bill contains provisions to give automatic life sentences to offenders who already have convictions for very serious sexual or violent offences.

A new anti-slavery commissioner will also be appointed to review the steps law enforcement and other agencies are taking to prevent modern day slavery.

Plans were first unveiled by the home secretary back in August.

In an article for the Times, Teresa May said then it was "scarcely believable" there was slavery in modern Britain, but the "harsh reality" was there were people in the UK "forced to exist in appalling conditions, often against their will".