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🇬🇧 Who Is Will(iam) Prescott & Why His Reform Ideas Matter

Will(iam) Prescott is a Senior Research Fellow at the UK think-tank Bright Blue, and has co-authored a major policy report — Properly protected: Reducing victims and abuses of modern slavery in the UK’s asylum system — published in December 2025. The report analyses how the modern slavery protection framework operates in the UK, what its strengths and weaknesses are, and what reforms could improve both victim support and the integrity of the system. (Bright Blue)

Prescott’s work has gained attention because it directly challenges politically driven narratives suggesting widespread abuse of modern slavery provisions, and instead argues for evidence-based reform that protects genuine victims while addressing any limited misuse. (The Guardian)

Context: Modern Slavery Framework in the UK

Before looking at Prescott’s proposals, it helps to understand the system he seeks to reform:

Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA): This law consolidated offences relating to trafficking, forced labour and servitude and introduced mechanisms like the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) — the UK process to identify and support victims of modern slavery. (Wikipedia)

Issues reported in recent years:

Referrals to the NRM have risen sharply — from about 3,000 in 2015 to over 19,000 in 2024 — prompting political concern about misuse. (Hansard)
Some government officials have claimed abuse of the system by asylum seekers as a way to delay deportation. (The Guardian)
Independent research suggests evidence for widespread abuse is weak and that most referrals appear genuine. (Bright Blue)

Prescott’s Reform Principles

Prescott’s approach is built around two linked goals:

Support and protect genuine victims of modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT).
Ensure the system is robust, transparent and not susceptible to even limited abuse. (Bright Blue)

He emphasises that reform should be careful, evidence-based and victim-centred — rather than driven by political pressure to lower asylum claims. (Conservative Home)

Case Study Reforms & Recommended Policies

Here are the main reforms Prescott and colleagues propose, grouped by theme:

1. Strengthen Early Identification of Victims

Problem:
Victims are sometimes overlooked early in the process, especially before reaching detention, due to lack of specialist training and unclear responsibilities among first responders (e.g., police, NGOs, local authorities). (Conservative Home)

Reforms Proposed:

Single Point of Contact (SPOC) in first responder organisations: Each body (police force, local authority etc.) should have an SPOC trained in modern slavery identification.
Mandatory specialist training for these SPOCs by approved providers so they can spot signs of trafficking earlier and make accurate referrals. (Conservative Home)

Why this matters:
Better early detection could reduce backlogs and ensure genuine victims are identified before they reach stressful environments like detention centres. It also reduces the risk that someone truly in need of help is missed. (Conservative Home)

2. Improve the National Referral Mechanism (NRM)

Problem:
Current NRM eligibility is dependent on referrals by first responders — victims cannot self-refer — and the system has long delays, weak support pathways and often does not lead to stable residence options. (Conservative Home)

Key Reforms Suggested:

Modifying referral rules in detention: Introduce a rebuttable presumption that those in detention awaiting removal are ineligible for a late-stage NRM referral. This would aim to reduce abuses after system improvements are in place. (Conservative Home)
Create a capped dedicated visa for confirmed victims: Inspired by the US “T visa”, this would offer long-term protection (e.g., up to four years) and could allow victims to live and work legally. Prescott proposes an annual cap (e.g., 2,000 visas) to address public concerns about migration numbers. (Conservative Home)

Why these matter:
These reforms seek to balance strengthening protections for real victims (by offering a clear recovery and integration path) with reducing incentives for misuse at the margin. (Conservative Home)

3. Supply-Chain Transparency & Corporate Accountability

While Prescott’s comments focus on asylum, the wider Bright Blue report also tackles broader modern slavery issues:

Problems:

Many UK companies do not fully comply with modern slavery reporting requirements under Section 54 of the MSA.
Lack of enforcement and transparency reduces corporate incentives to address slavery in supply chains. (Bright Blue)

Proposed Reforms (from report context):

Extend reporting duties to public bodies, close gaps in accountability.
Introduce fines for organisations that fail to publish required statements.
Require statements to specify the steps taken, not just optional outlines.
Support annual randomised audits of compliance. (Bright Blue)

These steps aim to increase corporate transparency and accountability, pushing companies to go beyond checkbox compliance. (Bright Blue)

Comments & Expert Insights

On Political Narratives vs Evidence

Prescott criticises claims that asylum seekers are widely abusing modern slavery protections, noting there is little credible evidence for this — the increase in referrals reflects more identification, not necessarily misuse. (Bright Blue)

Comment:

“There is little evidence to suggest it is being widely abused… But we do need reform… that guards against any abuses… and ensures the vulnerable get the support they need and deserve.” — Dr William Prescott (Bright Blue)

On Balancing Protection & Integrity

Prescott’s proposals aim to avoid blunt restrictions that might leave true victims without support — a risk highlighted by NGOs and academic analyses questioning overly high evidence thresholds and limits introduced by the Nationality and Borders Act 2022. (Wikipedia)

Expert-style perspective:
Policies need nuanced calibration: stronger victim support and clearer pathways to recovery, without undermining public confidence in immigration systems.

On Broader Law Reform Needs

Many analysts argue the UK’s modern slavery framework – including the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the NRM — needs to be updated to meet current challenges, from low prosecution rates to limited long-term support. Independent reviews and parliamentary committees have called for statutory clarity and stronger victimcentric measures. (House of Commons Library)

Prescott’s proposals align with this evidence-based reform agenda while attempting to guard against politically motivated changes that might weaken victim protection. (Conservative Home)

Summary of Prescott’s Reform Agenda

Reform Area	Proposal	Expected Effect
Identification	SPOC in first responder bodies + specialist training	Early & accurate victim detection
NRM eligibility	Reform detention referral rules	Reduce marginal misuse while protecting real victims
Long-term status	Capped dedicated victim visa	Stable recovery pathway and law-enforcement cooperation
Supply chains	Mandatory reporting + enforcement	Better corporate accountability

Overall Impact

Will Prescott’s reform proposals represent a balanced, evidence-focused alternative to politically driven narratives on modern slavery. They prioritise victim support, procedural integrity, and targeted fixes rather than broad restrictions that could harm those most in need of protection. Analysts and NGOs often support similar shifts towards improved identification, systemic transparency, and legal pathways for genuine victims — though many also call for even stronger enforcement and legislative clarity. (House of Commons Library)

Here’s a case-studies-and-comments overview of Dr Will Prescott’s (William Prescott) work on reforming the UK’s modern slavery system, based chiefly on Properly protected: Reducing victims and abuses of modern slavery in the UK’s asylum system — a major December 2025 policy report he co-authored for the Bright Blue think tank. (Bright Blue)

Context: Modern Slavery & Asylum in the UK

Modern slavery remains a significant challenge: the UK’s National Referral Mechanism (NRM) — the official process for identifying and supporting victims — saw referrals rise from ~3,000 in 2015 to nearly 19,125 in 2024. (Electronic Immigration Network)

But political debate around the system has been intense: some ministers argue there’s widespread abuse by asylum seekers, especially to delay deportation, while evidence from Prescott’s report shows limited abuse and mostly legitimate claims — with ~90 % of referrals by public bodies confirmed as genuine. (The Guardian)

Prescott’s analysis focuses on policy reform that protects the vulnerable while ensuring the system’s integrity and efficiency.

Case Study Reforms Proposed by Prescott & Insights

Case Study 1 — Strengthening Early Identification

Issue: Genuine victims are often missed early in their contact with authorities or NGOs, while some referrals are made late in detention to delay removal. (Electronic Immigration Network)

Proposed Reform:

Train and equip first responders (police, NHS, local authorities) with modern slavery expertise so they can identify signs early and refer appropriately. (Electronic Immigration Network)

Comment:
This shift is aimed at improving accuracy and timeliness in victim identification — reducing wasted resources and ensuring those genuinely in need get specialist support sooner.

Case Study 2 — Reforming the National Referral Mechanism

Issue:

The NRM currently requires referral by others, not self-referral.
Late referrals (e.g., during removal processes) are seen by critics as loopholes; yet the evidence suggests genuine victim cases dominate referrals. (Electronic Immigration Network)

Proposed Measures:

Tighter rules on referrals from detention — but only after improving training and early identification.
More detailed public data on referrals and NRM decisions to increase transparency. (Electronic Immigration Network)

Comment:
By sequencing reforms (first improve detection, then tighten late referrals), Prescott seeks to avoid undermining protections for real victims while addressing concerns about misuse.

Case Study 3 — Capped Temporary Long-Stay Visa

Prescott recommends something similar to the US “T visa”: a capped, time-limited visa for confirmed victims, offering several years of lawful residence. (Electronic Immigration Network)

Why this matters:
Instead of keeping victims in limbo, this provides a clear legal status for recovery and reintegration, increasing chances of cooperation in prosecutions and reducing long-term uncertainty.

Case Study 4 — Supply Chain & Reporting Enforcement

While Prescott’s report centres on asylum-linked modern slavery, it also highlights uneven compliance with corporate reporting requirements under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. (Electronic Immigration Network)

Recommendation:

Stronger enforcement of reporting duties, clearer accountability mechanisms and better data publication.
This improves corporate responsibility and sheds light on where exploitation risks truly lie.

Comment:
This broader focus aims to tie victim protection within the asylum system to corporate accountability and prevention efforts across the UK economy.

Expert & Policy Commentary

1. Evidence Vs Narrative

Prescott pushes back on politically charged claims of widespread abuse of modern slavery protections, noting little evidence of systematic misuse — most referrals are legitimate and come from public agencies. (Electronic Immigration Network)

Analyst Insight:

Policy must be evidence-based, not shaped by rhetoric about “loopholes” that don’t materially exist.

2. Balancing Protection & Integrity

Prescott’s sequence — build capacity and training first, then apply referral restrictions — is a nuanced approach compared with hard-line proposals focusing solely on tightening eligibility. (Electronic Immigration Network)

Expert View:
Policymakers caution that overly restrictive laws risk leaving genuine victims without support, undermining human rights commitments.

3. Transparency and Data

Releasing more granular referral and outcome data — one of Prescott’s recommendations — would help highlight where the system is working and where genuine vulnerabilities still exist. (Electronic Immigration Network)

Comment:
Transparency increases trust in the system, both for victims and public perceptions.

Summary of Case Studies & Reforms

Area	Problem Identified	Proposed Reform	Comment
Early Identification	Victims overlooked / late referrals	Specialist training & SPOCs	Helps ensure accurate, early victim support
NRM Referrals	Misconceptions about abuse	Tighter rules on detention referrals after first improving training	Maintains protection while reducing misuse claims
Visa Status	Legal limbo for survivors	Capped, time-limited victim visa	Stabilises lives & supports cooperation
Corporate Compliance	Weak reporting enforcement	Stronger modern slavery reporting enforcement	Extends victim protection into supply chains

Overall Assessment

Dr Will Prescott’s reform recommendations aim to improve victim protection while responding to legitimate policy concerns with evidence-based change. His approach prioritises:

better detection and training,
transparent data and accountability, and
legal clarity for victims rather than sweeping restrictions. (Electronic Immigration Network)

This contrasts with proposals to simply tighten eligibility without addressing core operational gaps in detection and support.