The number of potential modern slavery victims in Britain has reached an all-time high, with 19,125 referrals made to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) in 2024, according to new Home Office statistics. This surpasses the previous record of 17,000 cases in 2023, highlighting the growing scale of exploitation in the UK.
Modern slavery in Britain includes human trafficking, forced labor, servitude, and sexual exploitation, with victims often found in drug operations, car washes, nail salons, private homes, and the social care sector.
Rising Modern Slavery Cases Amid Global Crisis
Experts attribute the increase in modern slavery cases to a combination of poverty, conflict, and migration, which have fueled exploitation worldwide.
According to Anti-Slavery International, the true number of people trapped in modern slavery in the UK is estimated to be around 130,000, far higher than official referrals suggest.
Who Are the Victims?
Data from the Home Office shows that British nationals made up 23% of referrals, making them the most commonly identified victims. Albanians (13%) and Vietnamese nationals (11%) were also among the top nationalities affected.
A significant portion of the victims are children, with nearly 6,000 minors (31% of all referrals) identified as potential victims of child trafficking and forced labor.
Calls for Urgent Policy Reforms
Charities and lawmakers have urged the UK government to take stronger action against modern slavery by:
• Improving labor law enforcement to prevent exploitation.
• Reforming immigration policies, which critics say discourage victims from coming forward due to fear of deportation.
A recent Reuters report highlighted that tougher immigration laws have left thousands of modern slavery victims trapped and unable to seek help, as many fear the risk of being detained or deported.
Government Response and Growing Backlog
In response to the crisis, the government has pledged to hire more caseworkers to speed up the NRM process. However, as of late 2023, more than 17,000 victims were still waiting for a second-stage decision on their claim for support.
With the modern slavery crisis in Britain escalating, campaigners are calling for urgent legislative changes to protect vulnerable people and ensure that victims receive the support they need.
