Hundreds of potential modern slavery victims identified in region

In total, 156 of the potential victims of slavery and trafficking were either young people aged 17 or under or were adults who had been exploited as children, with adults accounting for the remaining 127.

The problem appears to be getting worse as well, with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) dealing with 280 referrals in the same three quarters of 2019.

That is a 6.1 per cent rise for last year’s January-to-September period.

This is a bigger rise in Greater Manchester than across the country as a whole, where referrals went up by 4.2 per cent in the two periods under scrutiny in 2019 and 2020.

Nationally there was the equivalent of 28 people being referred to the NRM every day in the first nine months of 2020.

The rising figures come despite fears that the coronavirus pandemic would force slavery networks and their victims further underground.

But charities say the NRM figures are an underestimate of the true extent of slavery in the UK, as adults need to consent to a referral.

It also relies on designated first responders such as police and councils being aware of the programme and how to refer victims.

GMP said it has had a dedicated Modern Slavery Co-ordination Unit (MSCU) since 2015 to support and care for victims and outlined the measures it has taken to ensure officers are able to respond to this appalling crime.

The force is currently in the process of establishing a dedicated modern slavery investigation team, which it is hoped will allow it to develop a centralised response and improve outcomes for victims.

GMP also works with partners to tackle modern slavery under Project Challenger.

The NRM figures refer to potential victims. Once referred, the Home Office will make a ‘reasonable grounds decision’ to determine if the person is likely a victim.

Of the 7,623 people the Home Office made decisions on between January and September, 6,980 (92 per cent) were judged to be genuine victims and could access accommodation and other support.

It also made 2,484 ‘conclusive grounds’ decisions – the second stage of the process, in which the Home Office makes a definitive ruling – of which 89 per cent were positive.

The Home Office said it had allocated £2 million this year to support police tackle modern slavery and had invested £11.3 million in the Modern Slavery Police Transformation Programme in the last three years.

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