Nottinghamshire Police investigated almost 200 accusations of exploitation last year - as more potential victims of modern slavery were referred to the Home Office than ever before. In 2021, the force investigated 173 potential cases of modern slavery, which was a 16% rise on the 149 cases investigated the previous year.
Last year’s figure includes 88 children, many of whom were likely exploited by criminal gangs. These people were channelled through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the UK’s identification and support system for possible victims of human trafficking, slavery, servitude or forced labour.
Home Office figures show 12,727 potential victims of modern slavery were referred across the UK in 2021 - a 20% increase on the previous year (10,601), and the highest number since the NRM first began in 2009. Around four in 10 (43%) of these potential victims were children - 5,468 potential child victims of modern slavery.
