Modern Slavery in UK Reaches Record Levels with Warnings of Worsening Crisis

Modern Slavery in UK Reaches Record Levels with Warnings of Worsening Crisis
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Modern slavery in the United Kingdom has reached record levels, according to a new report by the UK’s independent anti‑slavery commissioner, raising serious concerns about the future trajectory of human exploitation in the country.

The findings, also reported by The Guardian, indicate that without substantial policy and enforcement reforms, the problem is likely to continue growing over the next decade.

Official data show that the number of referrals to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) — the system used to identify and support potential victims of modern slavery — nearly doubled in five years, rising from 12,691 in 2021 to 23,411 in 2025, the highest number recorded to date. These figures reflect a sharp increase in cases involving forced labour, human trafficking and exploitation.

The commissioner’s report, Anticipating Exploitation: A Futures‑Based Analysis, highlights that the rise in modern slavery referrals is not solely due to improved detection. It also reflects worsening socioeconomic conditions, both within the UK and globally, which have left more people vulnerable to exploitation. Factors such as poverty, conflict and displacement, as well as restrictive or unsafe migration routes, have created conditions that traffickers are quick to exploit.

Experts contributing to the analysis warn that emerging threats — including the use of artificial intelligence to streamline exploitation, digital labour scams, crypto‑linked trafficking schemes and a rise in reproductive slavery — could exacerbate the crisis unless stronger preventive measures are implemented.

The report also underscores that current support structures are insufficient to address the scale and complexity of modern slavery in the UK.