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Alarming rise in sexual exploitation for third year running

Reports of sexual exploitation have increased for third year running reveals Unseen's Helpline – and warns that Ukraine war could lead to even more victims.
15% rise in sexual exploitation
Photo credit: Rory Carnegie/NCA. *Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline Annual Assessment 2022

Download 2021 Annual Assessment

The figures are part of the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline Annual Assessment, a yearly stocktake of UK slavery and human trafficking.

Findings include: 

  • Nearly 8,500* contacts in 2021 from victims, professionals working in services such as the NHS, businesses and members of the public  
  • A potential 3,019 victims of modern slavery indicated as a result of this contact 
  • 6.4% of victims were children  
  • A 51% increase in the number of modern slavery cases where a potential victim contacted the Helpline themselves 
  • Potential victims came from 76 nationalities, with Romania being the most common, followed by Vietnam, China, Albania and Sudan. 

Data from the Helpline, which is run by the anti-slavery charity Unseen, helps to shed light on the nature and scale of slavery in the UK where, experts estimate, there are up to 136,000 in slavery at any one time.  

The Helpline’s Annual Assessment, which includes figures for every nation and region in the UK**, is one of the most detailed reports produced by the sector.  

Data is used by other charities, the police, local and national governments and businesses to inform policy and respond directly to reports of slavery and human trafficking.  

The Helpline is free, staffed by trained advisors and operates around the clock. 

Says Justine Currell: “The bulk of the reports we’re getting about sexual exploitation are tip-offs about private addresses as well as online ads where the sex buyer has reported something to us.  

“This crime is well hidden, yet often right under our noses. I urge the public to contact us if they have the slightest suspicions about anything they’ve seen. 

“I’m encouraged by the huge increase in potential victims of slavery contacting us this year for help and support, which make up a much bigger proportion of contacts than previous years. This suggests we’re getting our number out to the right people.  

“But we also rely on the public and frontline workers in places like the NHS and police to contact us about anything they’ve seen.  

“You can see the signs of slavery to look out for on our website, but if you are worried about anything, it’s always best to get in touch.” 

Download 2021 Annual Assessment

*8,488. This is a 6.4% increase on the total for 2020

**By police force area

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• Unseen UK is a registered charitable company limited by guarantee in England and Wales
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Justine Currell

As I came to understand more about the issue, including through a visit to an Unseen safehouse, I knew I needed to do more to stop this abuse and exploitation.

For the last five years of my Civil Service career, I was the Modern Slavery Senior Policy Advisor in the Home Office and led on development of the Modern Slavery Act, including the transparency in supply chains provision and business guidance.

I joined Unseen to lead the development of the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, and Unseen’s work with businesses. I am regularly called upon to present at national and international conferences and use my experience of working with Ministers to influence other governments internationally to take action to address modern slavery and, in particular, business supply chain issues.

In my spare time I enjoy keeping fit, music, reading and travelling.

Andrew Wallis

What ultimately compelled me to act was a report on how people from Eastern Europe were being trafficked through Bristol airport to the USA. Kate Garbers, who went on to be an Unseen Director, and I wrote to all the city councillors, MPs and the Police Chief Constable challenging them on the issue. The challenge came back to us: this city needs safe housing for trafficked women. And so Unseen began.

But we never wanted Unseen to be just about safe housing. We wanted to end slavery once and for all, and that remains our driving focus.

I chaired the working group for the Centre for Social Justice’s landmark report “It Happens Here: Equipping the United Kingdom to Fight Modern Slavery”. This is now acknowledged as the catalyst behind the UK’s Modern Slavery Act of 2015. It was a great honour to be awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours that year. On the other hand, I’ve also been described as “the loveliest disrupter you could ever hope to meet”.

This job has taken me from building flat-pack furniture for safehouses, to working with businesses to address slavery in supply chains, to delivering training, raising awareness and advising governments around the world.

When not at work, I enjoy travelling, spending time with my dog Harley, cooking, supporting Liverpool and Yorkshire CC, music (I’m a former DJ) and endurance events such as the Three Peaks Challenge and Tribe Freedom Runs – which I vow never to do again. Until the next time.