Britain recorded 19,125 potential modern slavery victims in 2024, surpassing previous figures. Experts urge policy reforms as stricter immigration laws leave victims afraid to seek help.
The number of suspected modern slavery victims in Britain reached a record high last year, according to official figures released on Thursday, underscoring a growing crime that experts say demands urgent government policy reforms.
Home Office data revealed that 19,125 potential victims were referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) in 2024, surpassing the previous record of approximately 17,000 in 2023. The NRM is Britain’s system for identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery.
Modern slavery—encompassing human trafficking, slavery, servitude, and forced labour—is on the rise globally, driven by factors such as poverty, conflict, and migration, affecting millions worldwide.
In Britain, the crime manifests in various forms, with men, women, and children forced into exploitative labour in sectors such as drug and sex trades, car washes, nail salons, private homes, and social care.
According to the human rights organisation Anti-Slavery International, the actual number of people living in modern slavery in Britain is estimated to be around 130,000.
British nationals accounted for approximately 23% of referrals to the NRM, making them the most commonly identified group, followed by Albanians at 13% and Vietnamese nationals at 11%. Children made up around 31% of all referrals, equating to nearly 6,000 cases.
Charities and lawmakers have called for Britain to rethink its approach to tackling modern slavery, advocating for stronger enforcement of labour laws and reforms to immigration policies, which have primarily focused on curbing illegal migration.
Stricter immigration policies are leaving thousands trapped in modern slavery, with many too afraid to seek help due to fears of deportation, Reuters reported last month.
The government has pledged to recruit dozens of additional caseworkers to process claims within the NRM, as more than 17,000 people were still awaiting a second-stage decision on their cases at the end of last year, official data showed.
International politicians and religious leaders have paid respects to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei throughout the day, ahead of his six day...
Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has rejected criticism that her government responded too slowly to two major earthquakes that have ki...
NATO leaders will meet in Ankara next week for a high-stakes summit focused on defence spending, support for Ukraine and relations with U.S. President...
A Ukrainian woman, Anastasiia Berezovska, is the main suspect in a Monaco parcel bomb attack that injured three people, including businessman Vadym Ye...
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has raised its forecast for the rapid emergence of a strong El Niño, warning the climate pattern is likel...
A Russian couple climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and unfurled a banner urging world peace before, in an apparent elaborate marriage proposal that ended with their arrests.
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both sides tested the interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.
Iran and the U.S. have concluded indirect talks in Doha without a major breakthrough, with discussions focused on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and frozen Iranian funds. Both sides are expected to meet again after the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran mediated by Qatar in Doha have concluded, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi has said.
Eight Buddhist monks were killed and more than 20 others injured after an 11-year-old boy driving his parents' pickup truck ploughed into a religious procession in north-eastern Thailand, police said.
Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has rejected criticism that her government responded too slowly to two major earthquakes that have killed more than 2,500 people, as questions continue over the scale and coordination of the disaster response.
NATO leaders will meet in Ankara next week for a high-stakes summit focused on defence spending, support for Ukraine and relations with U.S. President Donald Trump, as European allies seek to present a united front despite transatlantic tensions.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday (3 July) that the European Union should take into account allegations of Ukrainian involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream sabotage when considering Kyiv’s bid for membership.
Alexandru Munteanu announced his resignation on Friday (3 July) in a surprise move that automatically triggers the fall of Moldova’s government.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 3rd of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment