Councils say child modern slavery referrals have soared by 800% in the last five years and this is causing the system to "slow down", according to the new anti-slavery commissioner.

In her first TV interview since stepping into the role, Dame Sara Thornton has said the Home Office needs to be "much clearer" with victims waiting for asylum.

The independent anti-slavery commissioner told Sky News the system is "slowing down" because of the increasing number of victims of modern day slavery, which she believes is rising "probably by 20% this year".

Image: Dame Sara Thornton is calling on the government to make the modern slavery referral system better

It comes as referrals of potential child victims of modern slavery made by councils in England have soared by 800% in five years, according to the Local Government Association.

Using National Crime Agency figures, the LGA said the referrals of suspected child victims of modern slavery in England rose from 127 in 2014 to 1,152 in 2018.


The government previously estimated there are between 10,000 and 13,000 victims of Modern Day Slavery in the UK, Dame Sara Thornton says that estimate "is way below what it is".

The most recent Global Slavery Index estimates Britain is home to at least 136,000 modern slaves.

Dame Sara Thornton said: "I'm concerned that frequently they're ending up destitute or homeless or indeed being re-trafficked, so I want to encourage the sector to do much more on long term outcome.

"A lot (of victims) have been waiting a long time for a decision as to whether they have been trafficked and then if they're not EU citizens are waiting a long time for decisions on asylum.

"I'm concerned about that because I don't think it's good for their physical health or their mental health."

A freedom of information request by the charity After Exploitation found that in 2018, 507 potential victims of human trafficking were detained, and 29 confirmed victims of human trafficking were detained.

August 2019: UK's largest-ever modern slavery ring broken

"Rachel" was promised a better life in the UK, but when she arrived she was forced into unpaid domestic servitude.

She said: "Most of the time your passport is being taken from you, most of the time you've been brainwashed on who to talk to, who not to talk to…the trauma, it's something that would stick with anyone for the rest of their lives."

After escaping and being identified as a victim of modern slavery Rachel was denied asylum by the Home Office. She fears going back home would mean returning to her trafficker.

Rachel said: "It's traumatising, you get to a stage in this process whereby you think, wow the government is even worse than the traffickers. They promise you this, they promise you that, and they don't deliver.

"They should stop using us to play politics, they are dealing with human lives, We are human beings like every other people, we need freedom.

"You live in a trafficking situation, whereby you're not allowed to do so many things, your freedom is being taken from you and you get to the government who say they are supporting you, who say they want to give you adequate support, and you go to the government but you are still kept in a house but you are not allowed to work… tell me that's not a re-trafficking process."

Image: Dame Sara Thornton is calling on the government to make the modern slavery referral system better

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Modern slavery and human trafficking are barbaric crimes and we remain committed to stamping them out and supporting victims.

"More potential victims are being identified and protected due to greater awareness and improved understanding of modern slavery.

"Recent significant reforms to the National Referral Mechanism, such as the introduction of new Single Competent Authority and the launch of a digital referral form, will ensure quicker and more certain decision-making that stakeholders and victims can have confidence in."

The former independent anti-slavery commissioner Kevin Hyland resigned citing government interference in his role.

He criticised the Home Office for failing to implement proposals that he says they agreed to.

Dame Sara said since then the independent review of the Modern Slavery Act has made improvements: "I will fight for my independence, objectivity, impartiality, neutrality absolutely key to my role."

The review into the Modern Slavery Act also found that the "recruitment process for a new commissioner should be scrapped" and "a new job description drafted".

When asked if it was concerning that that never happened when she was appointed, Dame Sara answered: "That was before my time, so I can't comment."