Britain is confronting a devastating modern slavery crisis as new official data reveals a staggering 300% increase in illegal migrants being identified as potential victims of labour exploitation.
The Home Office's internal figures, obtained by the Daily Mail, show the system is buckling under the weight of referrals from illegal entrants claiming to be modern slaves – skyrocketing from 1,118 in 2020 to an alarming 4,350 in the past year alone.
System Overwhelmed by Surge in Claims
This explosion in cases has created what officials describe as an "industrial-scale" problem, with the modern slavery framework being systematically abused by both criminal gangs and economic migrants. The referral mechanism, designed to protect genuine victims, is now being weaponized to thwart removal attempts and secure extended stays in the UK.
Once someone is referred into the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), they receive protections that effectively shield them from immediate deportation, even if their asylum claims have been rejected. This has created a dangerous loophole that sophisticated trafficking networks are exploiting for profit.
Criminal Networks Exploiting Protection Systems
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has sounded the alarm, stating that the modern slavery laws are "being abused by people gaming the system." She emphasized that while the government remains committed to protecting genuine victims, the current situation is unsustainable.
The data reveals that Albanian nationals account for nearly half of all illegal small boat arrivals who subsequently claim modern slavery status. This pattern points to highly organized criminal operations deliberately manipulating Britain's protection systems.
Genuine Victims Being Failed
Former Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Dame Sara Thornton, has expressed grave concerns that the deluge of questionable claims is diverting resources away from genuine victims. The system, originally designed to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation, is now being overwhelmed by potentially bogus applications.
Officials report that some illegal arrivals are being coached on what to say to qualify for modern slavery protections, with criminal gangs providing scripted narratives that guarantee entry into the NRM system.
Government Response and Proposed Reforms
The government is now pushing for urgent reforms to the Modern Slavery Act, including stricter evidence requirements and time limits on support for those whose claims are rejected. The Illegal Migration Act, recently passed, aims to address some of these issues by limiting modern slavery protections for those who enter the country illegally.
However, critics argue that more needs to be done to distinguish between genuine victims of trafficking and those using the system as a backdoor route to remain in the UK. The current crisis represents both a humanitarian challenge and a significant threat to the integrity of Britain's border controls.
