UK Modern Slavery Referrals Reach 23,000 in 2025, Driven by Poverty and Technology
Over 23,000 potential victims of modern slavery were referred to monitoring groups in 2025, an increase of 22% on the previous year and the highest number ever recorded. This surge is detailed in a report published on Monday, which warns that people trafficking, forced labour, and sexual exploitation will become increasingly difficult to detect without immediate action against criminal networks.
More than a fifth of the potential victims in 2025 were from the UK, constituting the largest single group. Eritrean nationals accounted for 13%, with Vietnamese nationals making up 9%.
The report, compiled a decade after the Modern Slavery Act came into force, draws on evidence from over 50 organisations. It identifies three primary drivers for the increase: rising living costs, accumulating debt, and insecure work. Furthermore, global conflict and displacement are cited as factors facilitating the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. The report also highlights how artificial intelligence (AI) and digital platforms are enabling traffickers to "recruit, groom and control victims at scale".
Eleanor Lyons, appointed independent anti-slavery commissioner in October 2023, stated that the report underscores "how exploitation is increasingly affecting people within the UK". She added that the "most harrowing forms of exploitation are becoming more widespread in this country and evolving faster than we can respond". Lyons stressed that the UK's current response is "not keeping with the scale and complexity of the threat", advocating for changes such as funding for specialist police units and fines for businesses found in breach of anti-exploitation regulations.
