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<p>The National Crime Agency has identified a gap in existing legislation which means
law enforcement agencies are not always able to act where it is suspected that modern
slavery offences are being committed at sea. If law enforcement officers have to wait
for vessels to return to UK territorial waters or to a UK port before they can take
action to tackle suspected modern slavery, this can expose victims to extended periods
of abuse and risk to life. This is an unacceptable situation which this Government
is determined to put right. <br><br>Clause 13 of the Modern Slavery Bill would empower
law enforcement officers to exercise specified powers when investigating modern slavery
offences being committed at sea. For UK vessels these powers will be available anywhere
at sea, and for stateless and EU vessels they will be available within the UK’s territorial
waters.</p><p> </p>
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