UK modern slavery at record highs as experts warn the trend could worsen

UK referrals to the National Referral Mechanism rose to 23,411 in 2025—the highest on record, up from 12,691 in 2021—with independent anti-slavery commissioner Eleanor Lyons warning that worsening global conditions and new exploitation methods, including AI-assisted trafficking, digital scams, and crypto, could push modern slavery higher over the next decade; the report calls for more funding for specialist police units, tougher prosecutions of exploiters, a national public awareness campaign, and improved victim care, while GRETA urges stronger alignment with the Council of Europe convention and better inter-agency coordination.