The Global Slavery Index estimates there are 136,000 people living in modern slavery in the UK on any given day, a prevalence rate of 2.1 victims for every thousand people in the country.
It’s been announced individuals supported through the modern slavery victim care contract will be allowed to stay in government-funded safe accommodation for the next three months, as the government steps up measures to protect the vulnerable from coronavirus.
Through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), victims of modern slavery can access support, including accommodation for at least 45 days. Ordinarily, they would be helped to move on from their accommodation after this period, but present circumstances would make this difficult if not impossible.
The news follows release of figures indicating the number of potential modern slavery victims referred to the NRM rose sharply in 2019 to 10,627 9, a 52 percent increase year-on-year and the first time since records began the total has exceeded 10,000. Two-thirds of victims said their exploitation took place in the UK only, while 26 percent said it was exploitation that took place overseas only.
More than 40 percent of referrals were victims who claimed they’d been exploited as children, with labour exploitation the most common form of exploitation. The three most common nationalities referred to the NRM were British, Albanian and Vietnamese. In response, anti-trafficking charity CARE called on Whitehall to issue new guidance for public authorities on identifying and helping victims of modern slavery during the coronavirus pandemic.
Research conducted by Home Office in 2014 estimated there are 10,000 – 13,000 potential victims of modern slavery in the UK, but the UK National Crime Agency has suggested this is but the “tip of the iceberg” and the true numbers are likely to be substantially higher as many victims are unable or reluctant to report to authorities or may not be recognised as victims of modern slavery even if they do.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
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