Hundreds of modern slavery victims across the UK are reportedly being denied access to vital support services due to flawed and potentially unlawful decisions by the Home Office, according to support charities and legal experts.
Data from the Salvation Army shows a significant decline in the number of modern slavery victims receiving support in the south and south east of England during 2023–2024. Only 314 individuals were granted assistance in these regions—down by 104 from the previous year—despite a record 19,000 potential victims being referred nationwide, a rise of 2,000 from 2023.
Under current UK law, the government must offer housing, NHS access, and legal aid to individuals with “reasonable grounds” to be recognised as victims of modern slavery. However, the proportion of applicants receiving positive decisions has plummeted—from around 88% in 2022 to just 53% in 2024, the lowest on record.
Support Workers and Lawyers Raise Alarm Over Evidence Demands
Frontline workers say increasingly strict evidence requirements are leaving vulnerable individuals unable to access help. Stevie Waight, from the Medaille Trust in Hampshire, recounted the case of a woman trafficked to Portsmouth, where she was confined and abused. With support, the woman eventually escaped and gave birth in hospital without accruing NHS debt—but only after a lengthy struggle to meet the Home Office’s proof threshold.
“These are people who’ve been locked indoors without documents or phones,” Waight said. “Other than their word, how are they meant to evidence what has happened?”
The Anti-Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit (ATLEU) confirmed that challenging unlawful decisions forms a core part of their legal work. In 2024, a High Court ruling found the Home Office failed to follow statutory guidance, leading to decisions deemed unlawful.
Legal Experts Accuse Government of Failing Victims
Human rights solicitor John Crowley from Leigh Day described the situation as “systemic.” He cited numerous refusals based on evidence that is “unreasonable to expect or literally impossible” for victims to provide. He called for easier access to temporary support while survivors begin recovering and preparing their cases.
“There simply aren’t enough specialist lawyers to help,” he added. “Legitimate victims are being shut out of systems designed to protect them.”
The Home Office, while maintaining that all decision-makers are thoroughly trained and monitored, declined to respond to further enquiries by the BBC.
