Poverty and technology fueling record levels of slavery in UK

The independent anti-slavery commissioner (IASC) has issued a warning that exploitation in the UK has reached unprecedented levels, driven in large part by increasing living costs and technological advances. In 2025, over 23,000 individuals identified as potential victims of modern slavery were reported to the monitoring body. This figure marks a 22% rise compared to the previous year and represents the highest number ever recorded.

According to a report released on Monday, trafficking, forced labour, and sexual exploitation are likely to become more difficult to detect unless decisive measures are taken against criminal organizations. The data reveals that more than 20% of the suspected victims in 2025 were UK nationals—the largest demographic—followed by Eritrean nationals at 13% and Vietnamese nationals at 9%. The findings stem from collaboration among over 50 organizations and come more than a decade after the Modern Slavery Act was established.

The report identifies three primary contributors to this upward trend: the rising cost of living, mounting debt, and insecure employment. In addition, global conflict and displacement have increased the vulnerability of individuals who traffickers exploit. The report also highlights the role of artificial intelligence and digital platforms in enabling traffickers to recruit, groom, and control victims on a large scale.

Eleanor Lyons, appointed as IASC in October 2023, emphasized that exploitation is increasingly impacting people within the UK. She remarked, “The most harrowing forms of exploitation are becoming more widespread in this country and evolving faster than we can respond.” Lyons urged immediate action to prevent further spread, noting that the current response is inadequate given the scale and complexity of the issue. She called on the government to implement reforms, including better funding for specialist police units and imposing fines on businesses that violate anti-exploitation laws. Lyons stressed that behind the statistics are individuals suffering severe abuse, from women forced into sexual exploitation to children coerced into criminal activities, and workers trapped in brutal conditions with no escape

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