Number of suspected modern slavery victims hits new record with more than 4,000 referred to Home Office between April and June this year, figures show
From April to June, 4,171 potential victims of modern slavery were reported
The figure is the highest on record and a significant rise from that of last year
The rise has partly been driven by claims of slavery to avoid deportation
There are more victims of modern slavery in the UK than ever before, new figures show.
Between April and June, 4,171 potential victims of human trafficking, slavery or forced labour were reported to the Home Office.
The figure is the highest since records on modern slavery began in 2009.
It is also a rise of 10 per cent from the previous quarter and up a third from the same period in 2021.
Figures show the highest number of child victims and 589 referrals involved county lines drugs gangs, also the highest number since records began.
Overall, 14 per cent of referrals involved county lines, with three-quarters (446) of these concerning boys.
The figures for suspected modern slavery victims have risen each year, excluding 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic.
Last year, 2,727 potential victims were identified - the highest annual figure since records began, when the number was 552.
Of the potential victims, 54 per cent claimed exploitation as adults and 39% claimed exploitation as children.
Some 43 per cent claimed their exploitation took place overseas, compared to 36 per cent in the previous three months.
The vast majority, 79 per cent, of the suspected victims were male. The most commonly reported form of exploitation for adult victims was labour exploitation, 32%, while children were most often referred for criminal exploitation - 44%.
Maya Esslemont, director of After Exploitation, a non-profit organisation, said the news: 'Could represent a loss of trust between survivors and the authorities, as the latter can no longer promise victims that they will be protected from deportation if they comply with an investigation.
'We are worried to see a rise in recorded modern slavery cases, at a time when the life circumstances of so many survivors seems uncertain.
'Since the Nationality and Borders Act was brought into force, survivors no longer have a "guarantee" of support even if they are recognised by the Home Office's own decision makers as victims.
'Today's figures show just how urgently this government needs to step up and address the long-term challenges facing each of the victims recognised as an NRM statistic.'
Last year, almost 30,000 people were known to have crossed the channel in small boats to reach the UK - likely an underestimate. This was a huge rise from 2020 when just 8,400 made the crossing.
The rising figures are likely driven by the rise in illegal immigrants claiming to be victims of modern slavery to avoid deportation.
In 2020, almost one in six used the defence as victims of trafficking or modern slavery are protected through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), a unit run by the Home Office.
Claims doubled from 5,135 to 10,613 between 2017 and 2020.
It was reported last year that those making the claim included Albanian gangs growing cannabis in the UK.
Albanians comprised the largest number of claims from foreign nationals in the last five years.
One case included Armelind Rexha, who appeared in court in 2019 charged with growing cannabis worth up to £672,000. A judge accepted his claim that he had been forced to do it after he cited the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Home Office minister Baroness Williams of Trafford said last year: ‘There are concerns about the potential for a referral to the NRM to be used to frustrate immigration enforcement processes to gain access to support inappropriately.
'There has been a growth in NRM referrals being made after a person enters immigration detention.
‘This raises legitimate concern that some referrals are being made late in the process to frustrate immigration action and that legitimate referrals are not being made in a timely way.’
The government has proposed to crack down on the use of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 to block deportation and criminal prosecution.
So far in 2022, over 13,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel and the total number for the year could double that of 2021.
The surge in channel crossings has largely been fuelled by people-smuggling gangs helping migrants to make the dangerous journey across the Channel.
According to the Home Office, 50 suspected criminal gang members were arrested last year in connection to small boat crossings.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) has also made several arrests this year connected to human trafficking as the number of Channel crossings continues to rise.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11102361/Number-suspected-modern-slavery-victims-hits-new-record-4-000-April-June.html