A new report from a centre-right thinktank has found no widespread abuse of the modern slavery system by asylum seekers, directly challenging assertions made by successive home secretaries.
Thinktank Findings Challenge Government Narrative
The study by Bright Blue reveals limited evidence that individuals are falsely claiming to be victims of modern slavery to remain in the United Kingdom. This conclusion undermines repeated statements from government ministers who have blamed the system for hindering deportation efforts.
The report casts doubt on the effectiveness of proposed reforms from the current Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, who has pledged to alter the rules. She is anticipated to outline her plans early in 2025, but the analysis suggests such changes may have a minimal impact on overall asylum claim numbers.
Data Reveals Scale and Nature of Referrals
The modern slavery framework for England and Wales was established in 2015 by then Home Secretary Theresa May. It created a formal process to identify and support potential victims of trafficking and exploitation.
Since its inception, referrals have surged dramatically: from just over 3,000 in 2015 to more than 19,000 in the last year. Recent home secretaries have attributed this rise to misuse by asylum claimants.
However, the Bright Blue report provides crucial context:
- Individuals cannot self-refer for an assessment; they must be referred by authorised third parties.
- 97% of all referrals come from public bodies like Border Force, police, local authorities, and the Home Office itself.
- 90% of those referred are found to have reasonable grounds to be considered potential victims, indicating most cases are not spurious.
- Even with a positive classification, most victims are not granted permanent leave to remain; support often involves temporary permission to stay and access to compensation.
The nationalities most frequently referred include British nationals, followed by people from Albania, Vietnam, and Eritrea.
Proposed Reforms Focus on Early Detection
While sceptical of widespread abuse, the report's authors acknowledge some misuse may occur. They propose a shift in focus towards earlier detection of trafficking and slavery by statutory first responders.
Ryan Shorthouse, Founder and Executive Chair of Bright Blue, stated: "The Home Office thinks the modern slavery referral system is being abused because it allows people to stay in the country a bit longer. But while there may be some abuse, we are sceptical that it is widespread."
The authors recommend enhanced training for organisations like the Home Office and Border Force to spot signs of exploitation sooner. Following this, the government could potentially prevent individuals already in detention—and assessed by these bodies—from being referred at a later stage.
The report's analysis was prompted partly by an incident where the High Court blocked a deportation after an Eritrean man made a last-minute trafficking claim. Home Secretary Mahmood criticised such "vexatious, last-minute claims," pledging to rewrite the rules.
A Home Office spokesperson responded: "Modern slavery referrals are rising. This is why the home secretary announced reforms … to identify vulnerable people and stop misuse. The statement fundamentally reforms the approach to illegal migration, making Britain a less attractive destination for illegal migrants and harder for people to block their removal from this country."
