Headline: Record Modern Slavery Cases in UK Linked to Poverty and Technology
- May 5
- 1 min read
Why this matters: Rising exploitation within the UK shows modern slavery is increasingly domestic and harder to detect due to technology.
Date: 5 May 2026
Tags: UK, Crime, Technology, Society
Summary:
Over 23,000 potential modern slavery victims were reported in 2025, a 22% annual increase.
Figures represent the highest number of referrals ever recorded in the UK.
Report highlights trafficking, forced labour, and sexual exploitation as key forms of abuse.
Rising living costs, debt, and insecure work identified as major drivers of exploitation.
More than 20% of victims were UK nationals, the largest single group.
Eritrean (13%) and Vietnamese (9%) nationals were the next most represented groups.
Criminal networks increasingly use AI and digital platforms to recruit and control victims.
Children are targeted through online platforms, including video games, for grooming and exploitation.
Boys are often exploited in drug networks, while girls face rising levels of sexual exploitation.
Government urged to strengthen response, including funding police units and penalising non-compliant businesses.
What’s next: Government review of the modern slavery system is ongoing, alongside efforts to reduce case backlogs and improve protections.
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