The United Kingdom has recorded an unprecedented number of potential modern slavery victims. According to a report by the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner (IASC) Eleanor Lyons, in 2025 the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) received more than 23,000 referrals — a 22% increase on the previous year. This is the highest figure ever recorded.
The report, Anticipating Exploitation, published this week, links the rise in exploitation to three core domestic drivers: the rising cost of living, debt, and precarious employment. Many British people, particularly those from vulnerable groups, are finding themselves trapped in forced labour, sexual exploitation, or criminal activity. More than one in five victims in 2025 were UK nationals.
The report places particular emphasis on the role of emerging technology. Artificial intelligence and digital platforms are enabling traffickers to recruit, groom, and control victims at enormous scale. Criminals are making increasing use of cryptocurrencies, online platforms, and so-called “scam compounds» where people are coerced into committing fraud. In the future, this is expected to make exploitation even more concealed and difficult to detect.
Global instability, conflict, and forced migration are creating a “pipeline of vulnerability” that criminal networks are exploiting with speed. Experts forecast a further rise in cases of forced labour in agriculture, construction, and elder care, as well as in emerging forms of exploitation such as reproductive slavery.
Eleanor Lyons warned that exploitation is “evolving faster than we can respond.” She called on the government to:
Increase funding for specialist police units;
Introduce penalties for companies that breach anti-slavery legislation;
Launch a national campaign to raise awareness of the signs of exploitation;
Improve support for victims.
The number of referrals has nearly doubled over five years, rising from 12,691 in 2021 to 23,411 in 2025. Experts stress that the true number of victims is significantly higher than official statistics suggest.