MPs must wake up to the scale of our modern slavery crisis

4 min read03 October

Both the public and politicians underestimate the prevalence of modern slavery in the UK. Our leaders will not be able to properly tackle this brutal crime until they truly understand it.

Could you guess how many potential adult victims of modern slavery were identified in the UK last year?

When we asked MPs* this question for our new research ‘On Our Streets: The changing face of modern slavery in London’, 86 per cent of MPs provided an incorrect estimate or opted not to respond. Only one in seven (14 per cent) chose the correct range.

The answer is 13,551, of which 64 per cent entered the UK National Referral Mechanism (NRM) – the government’s framework that aims to ensure victims of modern slavery and trafficking are identified and receive appropriate early support. The remainder were recorded anonymously via the ‘Duty to Notify’ process (England and Wales only). Across both of these processes, the number of potential adult victims is only increasing, with the number of NRM adult referrals increasing by 70 per cent between 2020 and 2023 and Duty to Notify recording the highest number of referrals in 2023 since their records began in 2015.

It’s not only MPs who lack awareness of the pervasiveness of modern slavery in the UK.

Only a quarter (25 per cent) of the public** believe that modern slavery is an issue in their local area, rising to 32 per cent amongst those living in London. However, the public is underestimating the prevalence of the issue both in their local areas and in the UK more widely: data from the Metropolitan Police shows that modern slavery offences occurred in every London borough in 2023, ranging from 10 to over 100 cases per borough.

In addition to underestimating the prevalence of modern slavery in the UK, both MPs and the public misunderstand who is impacted by this crime. Most MPs (62 per cent) incorrectly believe that adult victims of modern slavery in the UK are most likely to be women. In fact, 73 per cent of the adults referred to the NRM in 2023 were male and just 27 per cent were female. Over a quarter of MPs opted out of responding to this question.

In 2023 across adults only, British citizens were the second largest group by nationality amongst adult victims of modern slavery. However, only 10 per cent of the public correctly asserted that British citizens are one of the most likely nationalities to become victims of modern slavery. Newer forms of modern slavery including cuckooing and county lines are affecting more British citizens, targeting the most vulnerable in our society.

These misunderstandings are impacting UK policy and our effectiveness in tackling this crime.

The evidence shows that modern slavery is happening in all parts of the UK and impacting British citizens, and yet almost one in five MPs (18 per cent) see this as primarily a foreign policy issue. Opinion on this is split along party lines; a third (31 per cent) of Conservative MPs think modern slavery is primarily a foreign policy issue compared to only three per cent of Labour MPs.

Moreover, just under half (47 per cent) of MPs think recent UK legislation (such as the Illegal Migration Act and the Nationality and Borders Act) will not significantly reduce modern slavery in the UK, and 45 per cent agree that recent UK legislation will not deter traffickers.

Why does this matter? We stand at a crossroads in terms of the UK’s approach to tackling modern slavery. We have a crucial opportunity to renew our focus on prosecuting the criminals who perpetuate this brutal crime.

But what is clear is that we have a much better chance of succeeding in tackling the gangs with the evidence and collaboration of victims and survivors.

The public also wants to see more done on this issue. Eight in ten (81 per cent) agree that the UK Government should do more to deter traffickers and those who commit modern slavery offences, and similar proportions (78 per cent) agree that the UK Government should do more to support those who have experienced modern slavery.

We need our political leaders to understand that modern slavery is happening here, across all parts of the UK.

It can happen to anyone, regardless of nationality, age or gender. This is not an immigration issue. A focus on border security and preventing dangerous crossings is important, but it misses the root causes of this ever-evolving and growing crime.

Victims are coerced and controlled through threatened and actual violence, against them and their loved ones. They are told they have no way out, and that authorities will not help them or believe them.

Only when our leaders understand the true nature of this hidden crime, can we hope to tackle it effectively and hold the perpetrators – rather than its victims – to account.

Patrick Ryan is Chief Executive of charity Hestia. Talia Coroniti is Director at Thinks Insight.

*Online survey with 99 MPs, completed prior to the dissolution of Parliament on 30th May 2024.

**Nationally representative online survey of 2,000 members of the UK public (including 265 based in Greater London)

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