U.K.’s inadequate system may be returning victims to traffickers

Thousands of potential trafficking victims known to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the U.K.’s decision-making body on modern slavery, lost contact with the organization. According to data shared with the Guardian, the victims may have fallen back into the hands of traffickers. Experts warn that the data points to an inadequate support system for victims which leaves them vulnerable and possibly results in re-trafficking.

Current system “ruining lives”

When a modern slavery survivor seeks help and authorities confirm their trafficking status, the system should provide them with protection and support for healing and rebuilding their lives. However, data from the U.K.’s Home Office, disclosed under freedom of information rules, indicates this is not happening. The survivor support organization, After Exploitation, received data highlighting thousands of people referred to the NRM, who then disappeared from the system, only to resurface with new referrals later.

Maya Esslemont, the director of After Exploitation says,

“The ‘case by case’ decision making, in which some survivors don’t get help, is ruining lives. We know that survivors of modern slavery face a lottery of support, even after jumping through evidential hoops. (Protections for survivors) are necessary to reduce vulnerability and make it harder for exploiters to repeatedly target victims.”

In 2023, of the 17,004 potential modern slavery victims referred to the NRM, 2,018 referrals were not first-time cases. One person even had 7 referrals. Esslemont feels this data illustrates the U.K.’s failure to provide sufficient support to survivors and calls for the NRM to do better.

System needs accurate data and reform

Different organizations may have made some repeat referrals for the same individual. However, the Home Office did not provide a breakdown of the data that would allow that level of analysis. If different entities file multiple records for the same person, we should question the current government system’s efficiency. In a 2021 report, Dame Sara Thornton, the former independent anti-slavery commissioner, lamented the lack of accurate data on re-trafficking and stressed the need for better protection for survivors.

Esslemont stated,

“Reform cannot wait. Survivors must be guaranteed access to support including safe housing and counseling the minute they are recognized by the NRM.”

A Home Office spokesperson responded, stating their commitment to tackling all forms of modern slavery and ensuring that victims receive the support they need to rebuild their lives.

At Freedom United, we feel actions speak louder than words. We stand with organizations across the U.K. demanding that the thousands of modern slavery victims who sought support in the U.K. and feared being back with traffickers are given the support they deserve. We also insist that NRM immediately improve the “case by case” decision-making process currently creating this vulnerable situation for survivors. Modern slavery survivors who bravely seek help should not have to wait or, worse, be retraumatized before beginning to heal.