Big rise in cases of modern slavery
CRIME: The number of suspected modern slavery victims in the UK has hit a record of more than 10,000 – up 52 per cent in a year, figures show.
Some 10,627 potential victims of trafficking, slavery and forced labour were identified last year, compared with 6,986 in 2018, according to the Home Office data.
THE NUMBER of suspected modern slavery victims in the UK has hit a record of more than 10,000 – up 52 per cent in a year, figures show.
Some 10,627 potential victims of trafficking, slavery and forced labour were identified last year, compared with 6,986 in 2018, according to the Home Office data.
The figures have been rising each year and are now the highest in a decade, after 546 were recorded in 2009.
The data published yesterday looked at the number of potential victims of modern slavery who were identified and referred for support under the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).
The “upward trend in referrals” is thought to be “partly as a result of increased awareness of modern slavery and the NRM process”, the Home Office report said. The majority (6,564) claimed they were exploited in the UK only, and a quarter (2,762) said it had been only overseas.
A third were women or girls (3,391), who were most commonly referred for sexual exploitation.
Some 43 per cent of referrals (4,550) were for children – where criminal exploitation was the most common form, driven by a rise in the identification of socalled county lines drugs gangs.
According to the figures, 27 per cent of people referred were UK nationals (2,836) with Albanians (1,705) and Vietnamese (887) being the second and third most common nationalities.
To access support and have recognition of their circumstances in the UK, victims of slavery and human trafficking have to be assessed under the NRM.
This determines whether, on the balance of probabilities, they have “reasonable grounds” for statutory access to medical, psychological and legal support meaning they are considered potential victims.
They are then assessed again and, if considered to be a confirmed victim, given a “positive conclusive grounds” decision. The majority of referrals in 2019 (8,429) are still awaiting a final decision on their status, according to the report.
Campaigners have previously raised concerns about the number of suspected victims held in detention centres while their case is assessed and the length of time it can take.
The number of slavery crimes reported to police in England and Wales shot up by almost 50 per cent to 5,059 offences in the year to March 2019, last year’s annual report on modern slavery in the UK found.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Growing awareness of modern slavery and better training for first responders has improved the way this abuse is tackled and led to more referrals of potential victims.”
Last month, prior to the coronavirus lockdown, the UK became the first country to publish a government modern slavery statement, which sets out how the Government is tackling the crime in its supply chains.
The statement, which was published to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, outlined action being taken to ensure that taxpayers’ money does not line the pockets of criminals who exploit vulnerable workers.
Thousands of businesses are currently required to publish annual modern slavery statements under the Act.
Safeguarding Minister Victoria Atkins said at the time: “As we acknowledge everything this Government has achieved for victims of modern slavery over the last five years, I am proud that we are taking this unprecedented step to show how we are tackling slavery during procurement.”
Growing awareness has improved the way this is tackled.
A Home Office spokesperson.