There has been a sharp rise in the number of prosecutions for modern slavery, according to the latest figures, but conviction rates have stalled.

In total, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) received 355 referrals from the police and other agencies in the financial year 2017/18 – the highest figure ever recorded.

Of the 355 referrals, 239 suspects were charged which is a 27 per cent rise when compared with 2016/7.

In total, in 2017/18, 67 per cent of referrals were charged which is significantly down on the 83 per cent figure from 2014/15.

Concerns have also been raised over the lack of resulting convictions. In 2017/18 there were 185 convictions, up four on last year, but down from 192 in 2016.

Recent convictions include a gang who trafficked Vietnamese women into the UK to work in nail bars and a Slovakian family who forced ‘desperate’ people with mental health problems and learning disabilities to perform menial tasks while living in awful conditions.

New estimates suggest that number of modern slavery victims in the UK could be as high as 136,000, ten times higher than was previously thought.

Anti-trafficking campaigners CARE said today that the stall in convictions for modern slavery is hugely concerning.

CARE’s Chief Executive Nola Leach said:

“Modern slavery robs people of their dignity, freedom and human rights and it has no place in our society.

“This sharp rise in the number of prosecutions suggests the problem of modern day slavery is as prevalent as ever before and in reality, there are likely to be many more cases where justice is not delivered.

“Every successful prosecution sends a message to human traffickers that they will face justice for their crimes so it is hugely concerning that the conviction rates seem to have stalled.

“Today’s figures underline the importance of providing strong support for victims of human trafficking so they feel able to come forward and speak to the authorities.

“To this end we would urge the Government to engage with Lord McColl’s Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill which would significantly strengthen the level of support given to victims.

“With cases growing in complexity we must also make sure that the police and other frontline agencies are properly resourced to ensure they are able to cope.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

For more information or interview requests please contact James Mildred: james.mildred@care.org.uk // 07717516814

The latest figures are from the Crown Prosecution Service can be viewed here: https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/modern-slavery-prosecutions-rise-report-shows

The full CPS report can be found here: https://www.cps.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/publications/Modern_slavery_report_201718.pdf

Cases are referred to the CPS for consideration and charges are then brought under the Modern Slavery Act or other legislation.

The latest figures also show cases are growing in complexity and the average time to complete a prosecution for modern slavery has doubled to almost three years since 2015.

While the number of cases referred to the CPS has reached a record high, it is still only a fraction of the number of suspected modern slavery cases referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). A total of 5,145 potential victims were flagged up to the system last year which is an increase of 35 per cent on the previous year.

CARE is part of the Free for Good campaign which is campaigning for stronger support for victims of human trafficking by backing Lord McColl’s Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill: https://www.care.org.uk/news/latest-news/free-good-uks-campaign-modern-slavery-victim-support-bill-launched

Latest figures from the Global Slavery index suggests the number of human trafficking victims in the UK could be ten times higher than previously thought: https://care.org.uk/news/latest-news/estimated-number-modern-slavery-victims-uk-rises-tenfold-136000

A key part of the Modern Slavery Act was tougher sentences for perpetrators of this crime. Under the legislation, the maximum custodial sentence was raised from 14 years to life imprisonment: https://care.org.uk/news/latest-news/crucial-new-anti-slavery-powers-come-force

For more on CARE’s work on modern slavery see here: https://care.org.uk/news/human-trafficking