News · 5 May 2026
Over 23,000 UK slavery victims referred last year
British people are increasingly facing severe exploitation, as rising living costs and new technology empower criminal networks. A record 23,000 potential modern slavery victims were referred to monitoring groups in 2025, a 22% rise from the previous year. The independent anti-slavery commissioner warned this exploitation is becoming harder to detect, especially affecting children through online platforms.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs