The Salvation Army said in a major report it had seen a sharp drop in the numbers of people trapped in the vile trade accessing its services – for the first time in 13 years
Hardline immigration laws introduced by the Tories have created a “climate of fear” among victims of modern slavery, a major charity warns today.
The Salvation Army said it had seen a sharp drop in the numbers of people trapped in the vile trade accessing its services for the first time in 13 years.
Released to mark Anti-Slavery Day, the organisation’s figures show in the past year, 2,741 people have entered support services for victims of modern slavery it runs on behalf of the government. This is 792 fewer people than the previous year – a 22% fall.
Of those entering support, 64% had experienced forced labour, 19% were sexually assaulted, 10% faced criminal exploitation, and 6% endured domestic servitude.
The Salvation Army says recent changes in immigration law, “even those not yet enforced, may have made potential victims more afraid to seek help”. The charity claimed the Nationality and Borders Act (2022) and the Illegal Migration Act (2023), which has not yet been implemented, could be having the “unintended consequence of driving modern slavery further underground”.
During a debate on the Illegal Migration Act last year, ex Conservative PM Theresa May warned of the dangers of the legislation aimed at tackling small boat crossings.
Ms May told the Commons at the time modern slavery victims would be “collateral damage”. She said the government risked “shutting the door on victims while being trafficked into slavery here in the UK”.
Major Kathy Betteridge, director of Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery at the Salvation Army, said: “These [Acts] have created a climate of fear, where people who have experienced modern slavery cannot trust that they will be treated as victims of crime and given the support they need.”
She added: “Modern slavery is not an immigration issue; it is a human rights issue. Indeed British people are the second most common group accessing our help. We need to encourage every person exploited in slavery to break free by treating them as genuine victims of crime.”
A Home Office spokeswoman said: “Modern slavery has devastating impacts and the new government is committed to tackling this heinous crime in all its forms. We constantly keep our policies under review in order to best protect victims and ensure they are working efficiently and effectively.”
The Salvation Army’s free confidential 24/7 referral helpline 0800 808 3733 is available for anyone who suspects they or someone they have met may be a victim of modern slavery and needs help.
