CARE has expressed concern over a lack of modern slavery prosecutions in the UK, as it emerged less than 200 have taken place under the Modern Slavery Act since 2016.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that just 185 prosecutions occurred in England and Wales between April 2016 and March 2021.

Of these cases, only 95 resulted in a conviction and 90 resulted in non-convictions. The latter were generally because of prosecutions being dropped.

During this five year period, around 21,000 young people were referred for support in cases ranging from child sexual exploitation, to county lines drug dealing and forced labour.

A spokeswoman for The Children's Society expressed concern over the "pitiful return" in prosecutions, and suggested legal changes may be necessary to better-recognise child exploitation. She said:

"Questions need to be asked urgently about why prosecution rates remain so low and about what more can be done to intervene early, prevent children being exploited and disrupt perpetrators.

"There is still no statutory legal definition of child criminal exploitation and we would urge the Government to put that right as a crucial first step to turning around this worrying situation."

Lauren Agnew, trafficking policy expert at CARE, commented:

"These alarming figures imply that criminals who are exploiting children through trafficking and modern slavery are evading prosecution, or are being convicted for other offences that do not truly reflect their crimes.

"It is absolutely vital that those engaged in trafficking and modern slavery are dealt with under the relevant legislation. The idea that they are convicted for other offences and serving shorter consequences is galling.

"Punishing offenders for exploitation is a matter of justice, and also important for safeguarding. Those convicted under the relevant legislation will remain on the radar and be kept away from the vulnerable after prison.

"We urge the relevant authorities to assess why the number of prosecutions taking place is so low, and do more to address this cruel industry."