Report by Hestia finds increase in number of victims in 2017 and says two-thirds of the people it works with in the capital are forced into prostitution

The charity that supports the majority of victims of modern slavery in London says it has seen a 30% increase so far this year in the number of victims it helps.

A new report by Hestia says that two-thirds of the modern slavery victims it worked with in London in 2016 had been forced into prostitution – a far higher proportion than the rest of the country.

The charity says its study based on the experiences of 624 victims shows that London is a hub for modern slavery in Britain and that more than 80% of the victims in London are women, compared with 51% in the rest of the country.

Hestia says that the numbers continue to grow and it has already helped more people in 2017 than it did in 2016. The report covers mainly women who have been coerced into sexual enslavement, domestic servitude and forced labour. It says there are high concentrations in Southwark, Croydon, Lewisham, Newham and Barking and Dagenham. These are areas with national asylum support service accommodation and many victims have been identified as being trafficked whilst claiming asylum.

Quick guide Modern slavery Show Hide What is modern slavery? About 150 years after most countries banned slavery – Brazil was the last to abolish its participation in the transatlantic slave trade, in 1888 – millions of men, women and children are still enslaved. Contemporary slavery takes many forms, from women forced into prostitution, to child slavery in agriculture supply chains or whole families working for nothing to pay off generational debts. Slavery thrives on every continent and in almost every country. Forced labour, people trafficking, debt bondage and child marriage are all forms of modern-day slavery that affect the world's most vulnerable people.

How many people are enslaved across the world? The UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that about 21 million people are in forced labour at any point in time. The ILO says this estimate includes trafficking and other forms of modern slavery. They calculate that 90% of the 21 million are exploited by individuals or companies, while 10% are forced to work by the state, rebel military groups, or in prisons under conditions that violate ILO standards. Sexual exploitation accounts for 22% of slaves. Where does slavery exist? Slavery exists in one form or another in every country. Asia accounts for more than half of the ILO's 21 million estimate. In terms of percentage of population, central and south-east Europe has the highest prevalence of forced labour, followed by Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Who is profiting? In 2005, the ILO estimated that illegal profits from forced labour amounted to more than $44bn. The UN's global initiative to fight trafficking says people trafficking is the third-largest global criminal industry (pdf) behind drugs and arms trafficking. The ILO estimates that people in forced labour lose at least $21bn each year in unpaid wages and recruitment fees. Slavery also exists within global supply chains, generating huge profits for those who control this industry in free labour.

Patrick Ryan, Hestia chief executive officer, said: “Modern slavery is a cold, calculated and brutal business model in which people are deprived of liberty and then repeatedly raped, beaten and abused. It turns a profit on the back of other people’s misery.

“It destroys the lives of its victims and is a shame to all of us in a modern society. Last year, Hestia supported the majority of London victims, and this year we have already seen an increase of 30%. The only way to combat this issue is with support by the public,” said Ryan.

“We need Londoners to help victims rebuild their lives. We need specialists such as teachers and doctors. But we also need people who can spare a few hours to befriend an individual and support them to feel part of a community again.”

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The report substantiates recent police estimates that the number of victims identified in London could rise to as many as 1,600 by the end of this year.

The independent anti-slavery commissioner, Kevin Hyland, has said the number of people living in slavery in the UK is likely to be considerably higher than the current estimate of 13,000, adding the “true number is in the tens of thousands”.

Hestia says it has launched its volunteer appeal because currently victims only receive temporary official support yet the trauma they experience means they need longer-term support to enable them to rebuild their lives.

The Home Office announced last month that it intends to increase the extent of “move on” support for victims of modern slavery from 14 days to 45 days. This includes ongoing accommodation, counselling, expert advice and advocacy. Modern slavery victims identified to the national referral mechanism receive a minimum 45 days of “reflection and recovery” support while their status is confirmed. The period of move on support is in addition to that initial period.