Thousands of modern slavery victims are turning down support from the UK government, with many expressing deep fear of deportation or mistrust in the authorities. Nearly 6,000 individuals declined referral to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) in 2024, new research reveals.
The data, compiled by the British Institute for International and Comparative Law and the Human Trafficking Foundation at the University of Oxford, points to a wide range of reasons behind victims’ reluctance. These include fear of their traffickers, receiving support from alternative sources, a desire to move on from their traumatic past, and concerns about dealing with UK institutions.
In total, there were over 19,000 referrals to the NRM last year. However, the proportion of individuals refused support at the initial stage has surged from 12% in 2022 to 47% in 2024, according to the group After Exploitation. Separate findings show that in only 133 of the 51,193 cases reported to the Home Office between 2021 and 2024 did victims apply for compensation.
Freedom of information requests uncovered that 2,427 confirmed trafficking victims from Albania and Vietnam were returned to those countries between January 2020 and September 2023 a mix of voluntary and enforced removals. Many of these individuals had already received official recognition of their status as victims.
Experts say this climate of fear and mistrust is driving victims away from the very system designed to protect them. Liz Williams from the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre said: “This shows a system long under strain. Many victims reject support due to fear, poor information, and a lack of trust in authorities made worse by harsh immigration policies that strip away protections.”
Marking the 10th anniversary of the Modern Slavery Act, a recent parliamentary debate highlighted how the NRM is buckling under pressure, with an average trafficking case now taking 831 days to process. MP Craig Murray described the system as “all but broken down.”
Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips responded by announcing that 100 additional staff had been hired to tackle the backlog, with a target to clear it by December 2026.
Legal experts and support workers warn of dire consequences. Esme Madill, from the Migrant & Refugee Children’s Legal Unit, said some victims particularly young Albanians have been retrafficked after being returned. “We’re seeing vulnerable people trapped in horrifying conditions. Yet they don’t feel confident that UK authorities will keep them safe,” she said.
One case involved a 17-year-old girl who was returned to Albania and immediately forced into prostitution.
Despite the severity of these issues, only 2% of trafficking victims ever see their abusers prosecuted, according to a House of Lords report. Many campaigners argue that there are more victims than there are traffickers behind bars.
Williams concluded: “The Modern Slavery Act’s promise of justice remains unfulfilled. We urgently need a strategy focused on prevention tackling the root causes like poverty, exclusion, and lack of opportunity that leave people vulnerable to exploitation.”
A Home Office spokesperson said the government is committed to eliminating the NRM backlog and that “no individual found to be at genuine risk of serious harm will be expected to return to their country of origin.”
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