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Poverty and technology fueling record levels of slavery in UK
A report by the independent anti-slavery commissioner links rising living costs, debt, and insecure work to record levels of exploitation in the UK. The 2025 data show over 23,000 referrals, a 22% rise from the previous year, with UK nationals making up the largest single group and regional/national breakdowns highlighted.
Why It Matters
The findings underscore urgent needs for policy and enforcement action to adapt to evolving trafficking methods and technology-enabled exploitation, and to better protect victims in the UK.
Timeline
5 Events
Article reporting on IASC findings published
May 5, 2026
The article reporting the findings was published on May 5, 2026. It quotes Eleanor Lyons describing the UK's response as not keeping pace with the scale and complexity of the threat and calling for urgent action.
IASC report published detailing drivers and risks of exploitation
May 4, 2026
A report published on Monday, May 4, 2026, warns that people trafficking, forced labour and sexual exploitation will become harder to detect in coming years unless urgent action is taken. It identifies three main factors driving a rise: rising living costs, debt and insecure work. It notes that conflict and displacement worldwide make exploitation easier to carry out, and that artificial intelligence and digital platforms are enabling traffickers to recruit, groom and control victims at scale. It draws on evidence from more than 50 organisations and calls for changes, including funding for specialist police units and fines for businesses breaching anti-exploitation rules.
Record-high referrals to monitoring group in 2025
2025
In 2025, over 23,000 potential victims of modern slavery were referred to the monitoring group, a 22% increase on the previous year and the highest number ever recorded. More than a fifth of potential victims in 2025 were from the UK, with Eritrean nationals accounting for 13% and Vietnamese nationals 9%.
Eleanor Lyons appointed independent anti-slavery commissioner (IASC)
October 2023
Eleanor Lyons was appointed IASC in October 2023.
Modern Slavery Act 2015 comes into force
2015
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 brought together existing anti-exploitation offences into one law and created new duties and powers to protect victims and prosecute offenders. It introduced a new defence for victims of slavery and trafficking who have been forced to break the law.