The UK government has announced plans to “eliminate” a backlog of modern slavery cases within two years. The backlog includes more than 23,000 suspected victims awaiting a decision from the Home Office regarding their status. Some individuals have spent up to four years in a safe house while waiting for a resolution. The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner has welcomed the plans but called for more prosecutions of those guilty of exploiting people for personal or commercial gain.
Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips MP has announced the recruitment of 200 additional staff to address the backlog. She views the issue as one of her “top priorities” and aims to increase the number of prosecutions against perpetrators of modern slavery. The average waiting time for a conclusive decision regarding a status determination is more than 500 days, according to government figures.
Last year saw a record high of 16,996 referrals made to the National Referral Mechanism across England and Wales, with victims including children. The exploitation of individuals for personal or commercial gain, examples of which include forced labor and prostitution, is defined as modern slavery. Last year, a quarter of all referrals were from the UK, followed by Albanians and Vietnamese individuals.
While the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner has welcomed the government’s response to the backlog, she believes that more needs to be done to ensure victims of modern slavery are protected and their perpetrators prosecuted. She has called for a government strategy prioritizing tackling modern slavery, which reflects survivor experiences and voices, claiming that around 120,000 more people are being exploited across the nation.
The Salvation Army has provided support for modern slavery survivors, who have welcomed the announcement. Nonetheless, record numbers of people are declining specialist help due to fears surrounding recent changes in the law that have conflated modern slavery with immigration. Victims are fearful that they will be prosecuted and deported, ultimately undermining their trust in the government’s ability to support them
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