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Exploitation on rise as police probe modern slavery claims

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date18 May 2022
Publication titleLoughborough Echo
In 2021, the force investigated 154 potential cases of modern slavery, including 49 children, many of whom were likely exploited by criminal gangs

These people were channelled through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the UK's identification and support system for possible victims of human trafficking, slavery, servitude or forced labour.

Nearly referred victims slavery urgency challenge to

Home Office figures show 12,727 potential victims of modern slavery were referred across the UK in 2021 - a 20 per cent increase on the previous year (10,601), and the highest number since the NRM first began in 2009.

About four in 10 (43 per cent) were children - 5,468 potential child victims of modern slavery.

In addition to those referred through the NRM, the Home Office received reports of a further 3,190 potential adult victims through the Duty to Notify process, a 47 per cent increase from 2,175 in 2020.

This means the potential victim refused to enter the NRM process, and their personal details were not collected. Professor Alex Balch, director of research at the Modern

Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre, said: "Nearly 13,000 people referred as potential victims of modern slavery represent the urgency of the challenge we have to address.

13,000 people as potential of modern represent the of the we have address.

"The increase follows a trend of year-on-year increases since 2009 when the system was founded, apart from last year when referrals were flat due to pandemic-related disruptions.

"The nearly 50 per cent increase in adults referred under the Duty to Notify process is very worrying. It means that over 3,000 people chose not to enter the NRM for government support when they were identified as potential victims by authorities.

"We urgently need to know more about what deters people from entering the NRM and how we can improve the identification of victims.

"We are about to fund research in this area."

Professor Balch said the latest figures raised concerns about pressures on available resources within the NRM, and rising waiting times on final decisions.

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