Number of British modern slavery victims soars by 72% in a year amid county lines drugs gangs

THE number of British victims of modern slavery have skyrocketed by 72 per cent in a year, new figures show.

Campaigners fear the rise could be down to the growing number of victims who have been exploited through 'county lines' drugs gangs.

The number of UK nationals who have been identified as potential victims of trafficking have gone up from 1,246 in 2017-18 to 2,143 in 2018-19.

The proportion of all victims who are British are up to 26 per cent from 21 in one year, according to analysis by

Campaigners say the shocking rise could pinpointed the increase in victims of the county lines drug activity, which is the sinister drug running technique that gangs are using to sell drugs in other towns by exploiting kids and vulnerable adults.

The dealing technique uses young people or vulnerable adults to carry and sell drugs across county boundaries using dedicated mobile phone hotlines.

The Salvation Army, a charity that provided safe housing and support to modern slavery victims, said it has seen a 58 per cent increase in British nationals using their service within the past year.

The charity, which is contracted by the Home Office, said the number of UK victims who have been enslaved through labour exploitation, including forced criminality, increased by 63 per cent between July 2018 and July 2019.

It added it was the most common type of exploitation as it accounted for 48 per cent of cases.

The charity Unseen has also shared research that fuels concerns that rough sleepers are being coerced into exploitation.

It reported that seven per cent of all cases reported to its helpline involve a homeless victim.

Jakub Sobik, of Anti-Slavery International said told The Independent: “These numbers show that nationality of people targeted to be exploited doesn’t matter, all it takes is finding vulnerable people and a way to trap and exploit them.

He said the services that are meant to "spot the signs early", such as teachers, doctors and social workers, were "very underfunded" and it needs to be reversed.

Emily Kenway, a senior advisor at Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX), said it was not a shock that exploitation was “rife and rising”, citing the UK’s “woeful failure” to fund labour inspection adequately.

She added the increased numbers show police are recognising how county lines drug activity may include victims of modern slavery, but "more must be done to prevent exploitation from occurring in the first place”.

A Home Office spokesperson told The Sun Online: “Modern slavery and human trafficking are barbaric crimes and we remain committed to stamping it out and supporting victims.

“More potential victims are being identified and protected due to greater awareness and improved understanding of modern slavery.”

“Our recent significant reforms to the National Referral Mechanism, such as the introduction of new Single Competent Authority and the launch of a digital referral form, ensure we get victims into the support they need more quickly”.

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