Modern slavery guidance – have your say

Modern slavery can take many forms, including human trafficking – where victims are taken between countries or around a country so they can be exploited – as well as sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude and criminal exploitation.  

Cases of modern slavery are often linked to organised crime groups and networks who target vulnerable people, including children and young people. Many victims often don’t realise they are in slavery or being exploited and are often targeted, for example, if they have financial, social or health issues, or because of their age or immigration status.

Since the creation of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) in 2009, the number of people who have been identified as potential victims of modern slavery has been steadily rising. The latest figures show 17,004 potential victims of modern slavery were referred to the Home Office in 2023, demonstrating that policing and our partners are improving at identifying potential victims and there is better awareness of the reporting system.

However, these crimes can have a devastating impact on vulnerable individuals and communities. Add to this the links to organised crime networks, and it is evident much more needs to be done. Authorised Professional Practice (APP) is our official source of guidance, helping everyone in policing deliver trusted and effective policing that cuts crime and keeps people safe. We’ve updated our Modern slavery APP to include to incorporate new legislation and what is working to tackle modern slavery and prevent more vulnerable people becoming victims.

The APP provides guidance for:

• Frontline officers: including on the types of exploitation, spotting the signs that someone is a victim, and what actions to take to keep victims safe and support an effective investigation.
• Investigators: including safeguarding vulnerable victims so they are no longer at risk, how to build an evidence-led investigation into this complex type of crime, and how they can access regional and national support during their investigation.
• Supervisors: including how they should ensure cases of modern slavery are investigated thoroughly and effectively by officers and staff who possess the right skills and experience.
• Senior leaders: including how they should establish processes that support all officers and staff within their force to understand, prioritise and respond to the threat of modern slavery.