A new report has challenged the narrative that the UK's modern slavery protection system is being widely abused by asylum seekers to avoid deportation. The findings from the centre-right thinktank Bright Blue directly contradict repeated assertions from successive home secretaries.
Limited Evidence of Systemic Abuse
The report, which examines the operation of modern slavery rules in England and Wales, found limited evidence to support claims that people are falsely declaring themselves victims to remain in the country. This undermines statements from recent home secretaries who have blamed the system for obstructing deportations.
Ryan Shorthouse, founder and executive chair of Bright Blue, stated: "The Home Office thinks the modern slavery referral system is being abused because it allows people to stay in the country a bit longer. But while there may be some abuse, we are sceptical that it is widespread."
Rising Referrals and Government Response
The modern slavery framework was introduced in 2015 by then Home Secretary Theresa May, establishing a formal mechanism to assess potential victims of trafficking and slavery. Since then, referrals have surged dramatically, from just over 3,000 in 2015 to more than 19,000 last year.
Ministers have frequently linked this rise to the asylum system. They highlight that some nationalities commonly referred under trafficking rules—such as those from Albania, Vietnam, and Eritrea—also feature prominently in asylum claims. British nationals, however, constitute the largest group being evaluated.
The current Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has accused some asylum seekers of making "vexatious, last-minute claims" and has pledged to rewrite the UK's modern slavery rules. She is expected to outline her proposals early next year.
Why Proposed Reforms May Have Limited Impact
Bright Blue's analysis suggests that Mahmood's planned reforms may have a limited effect on asylum numbers. The report points out that asylum seekers cannot demand an assessment; they must be referred by a third-party organisation. Notably, 97% of referrals come from public bodies like Border Force, police, local authorities, and the Home Office itself.
Furthermore, the data indicates that 90% of those referred are found to have reasonable grounds for being considered victims, arguing against the notion of widespread vexatious claims. Additionally, being classified as a victim does not typically lead to permanent leave to remain; it more often results in temporary permission to stay and potential compensation.
The authors propose an alternative focus: improving early detection. They recommend training statutory first responders, such as the Home Office and Border Force, to identify signs of trafficking sooner. Following this, the government could potentially ban individuals already in detention—who would have been assessed by these bodies—from being referred at all.
A Home Office spokesperson defended the government's direction, stating: "Modern slavery referrals are rising. This is why the home secretary announced reforms … to identify vulnerable people and stop misuse. The statement fundamentally reforms the approach to illegal migration, making Britain a less attractive destination for illegal migrants and harder for people to block their removal from this country."
