Record 20,000 Modern Slavery Victims Referred in UK

A record 19,125 potential victims of modern slavery were referred to the Home Office in 2024, marking a 13% increase from the previous year. The Government confirmed this is the highest annual figure recorded since the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) began in 2009.

For the first time, more victims reported exploitation overseas (44%) than in the UK (43%). The most commonly reported countries of overseas exploitation were Libya (3,212 cases), Albania (1,294), and Vietnam (1,049).

In the UK, Greater London (2,661 cases) had the highest reports of exploitation, followed by the West Midlands (842) and Greater Manchester (549).

Children accounted for 31% of all referrals, down from 35% the previous year. Men made up 74% of referrals, while 26% were female. The most common nationality among potential victims was British (23% or 4,441 cases), followed by Albanian (13%) and Vietnamese (11%). Among UK nationals referred, 75% were children.

Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Eleanor Lyons described the figures as evidence of the "shocking scale" of modern slavery. She stressed: "Each number represents a person subjected to unimaginable suffering."

Estimates suggest over 100,000 people in the UK are affected.

The Government has pledged to eliminate the backlog of modern slavery cases by 2026, hiring 200 additional staff. As of February 2025, 15,301 cases were awaiting a decision, a 39% reduction from the previous year.