The strategy will focus on prevention, protecting victims and pursuing offenders and has been developed in collaboration with the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) modern slavery and human trafficking sub-group, non-governmental organisation Engagement Group and other partner agencies.

Richard Pengelly, permanent secretary of the Department of Justice, said: “Modern slavery and human trafficking takes many forms and guises. It cuts across all sections of society and has a potential impact on everyone.

“It is important that the public and interested organisations have the opportunity to shape how we progress the proposed new three-year strategy. The strategy will enable society to better identify modern slavery and human trafficking and to work to eradicating it.”

Modern slavery is an umbrella term often used to describe offences of human trafficking and of slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour.

The consultation can be found on the Department’s website and will close at midnight tonight, Tuesday 10 January 2023.