Braverman appoints Lyons to vacant anti-slavery commissioner position
Eleanor Lyons, the current deputy children’s commissioner, has been appointed to take on the role of independent anti-slavery commissioner.
Lyons’s appointment comes after 18 months of vacancy in the role.
It has been a legal requirement to have an independent commissioner since its establishment as part of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The commissioner works collaboratively with the government and its partners to ensure modern slavery is effectively tackled in the UK, as well as working with international partners to promote best practice.
Lyons was selected by home secretary Suella Braverman. The home office described competition for the role as “robust”. The previous independent commissioner, Sara Thornton, left the role at the end of a three-year tenure in April 2022. Sources had previously told The Guardian that interviews were conducted and completed before Thornton left.
Lyons’s remit is to:
- encourage good practice in the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of slavery and human trafficking offences, and in the identification of victims
- work alongside government in its implementation of the reform of National Referral Mechanism (NRM) to improve UK’s ability to identify and support victims of modern slavery
- commission specific research, studies and inquiries to strengthen the evidence base on modern slavery to support the mobilisation of appropriate responses and the commissioning of interventions
- build positive relationships with the modern slavery leadership community, including the Devolved Administrations, business, academia, civil society, international partners and victims of modern slavery.
The appointment is designated for a fixed period of three years, with Lyons taking up the role from 11 December 2023, after she concludes her role as deputy children’s commissioner.
Between November 2019 and July 2020, Lyons was director for Portland Communication Consultancy. Between November 2017 and August 2019, she was special adviser to the prime minister, defence secretary and chief whip.
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