Decision Analysis Services (DAS) Uses Intelligent Futures Service to Deliver Advanced Strategic Foresight Study on Behalf of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (IASC)

Published by IASC, the report, ‘Anticipating Exploitation: A Futures Based Approach’, details DAS’ futures-based study of the critical threats likely to shape the prevalence and nature of modern slavery and human trafficking over the next ten years.

The study was conducted using DAS’ Intelligent Futures service, which applies a best practice approach for thinking ahead and planning for uncertainty. Intelligent Futures combines multiple advanced, future-focussed techniques to deliver on-going strategic intelligence and foresight for organisations. It provides a foundation for understanding future risks, uncertainties, and opportunities, and for anticipating and staying ahead of evolving threats.

DAS used the research findings from the foresight study to determine insights and possible ways to disrupt and reduce modern slavery and human trafficking over the next ten years.  IASC used these recommendations as the basis for a five-point action plan for the UK Government. The plan sets out the following actions:

• Put survivors at the centre: embed lived experience in policymaking and oversight.
• Publish and maintain a Modern Slavery Strategy that stays ahead of evolving threats.
• Ending modern slavery and exploitation must be a whole-of Government priority backed by visible political will.
• Protect survivors of exploitation and provide specialist care for child victims.
• Strengthen law enforcement capability to disrupt modern slavery, including technology-enabled exploitation and illicit finance.

Dr Elaine Wedlock, Head of Strategic Analysis for IASC, praised DAS’s approach to delivery, saying: “We found your thorough, structured approach of applying the futures methodology to be extremely insightful and we have a lot to focus on and from it for the future work of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner.”