Tower Hamlets top table for slavery victims referred in London

A total of 30 potential victims of modern slavery and trafficking in Tower Hamlets were referred to authorities last year – more than any other London local authority.

Share Email this article to a friend To send a link to this page you must be logged in.

The National Crime Agency said UK nationals made up the highest number of cases for the first time nationwide, followed by Albanians and people from Vietnam.

NCA data show 252 potential victims in London were flagged to the National Referral Mechanism, 93 per cent of whom (235) were children.

The borough led Croydon (28 potential victims), Newham (24) and Lambeth (21) as the capital’s hotspot for cases.

Nationally, the number of minors reported to the NRM rose by two thirds from last year.

The agency said the increase was due to “increased awareness” and growing drugs supply routes, or “county lines”.

Here, gangs based in cities use young people as couriers to move products to rural areas.