The government’s new immigration policy poses a greater threat to victims of modern slavery. The role of adult and children social care workers are more vital than ever.
Evidence from leading anti‑slavery charity Unseen, shows that current immigration reforms are harming survivors and enabling traffickers to operate with greater impunity. Unseen’s CEO, Andrew Wallis, warns that when survivors face scepticism rather than support “they disappear from view and criminal gangs are free to operate”.
Disturbing findings
One of the most disturbing findings is the presence of systemic bias in decision‑making. Unseen notes that nationalities, such as Albanians, face disproportionately high levels of doubt over their credibility, creating entrenched mistrust and making survivors even more reluctant to engage with authorities.
This institutional scepticism not only alienates groups already vulnerable to exploitation but “allows bias to creep into the system”, further destabilising an already fragile protective framework.
These concerns are reflected in Home Office data. In the three months leading to September 2025, 6,400 potential victims were referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) - an increase of over one‑third. Such a rise should indicate improved detection, yet Unseen argues that many victims are simultaneously being denied protection due to elevated evidential thresholds and new disqualification criteria.
Meanwhile, modern slavery continues to dominate headlines. In one recent case, Amanda Wixon, aged 56, was convicted after holding a vulnerable person captive as a “house slave” for 25 years. In another, three individuals were found guilty of operating exploitation and prostitution networks involving trafficked individuals.
These cases highlight that modern slavery remains a deeply embedded threat throughout UK communities. In this climate of heightened distrust and reduced protections, the responsibilities of adult and children social care practitioners are more critical than ever.
What is modern slavery?
Modern slavery refers to the exploitation of people who are unable to leave their situation due to threats, coercion, deception, or abuse of power. Although it doesn’t always resemble historical slavery, it involves severe loss of freedom and dignity.
To find out more about recognising and combating please read our article.
Meeting the growing threat
Modern slavery remains a significant and growing threat in the UK. Without vigilant identification and decisive action from adult social care professionals, it will remain unseen - and countless more individuals will continue to suffer in silence.
Bond Solon’s one-day Modern Slavery course aims to help professionals understand what modern slavery is, who is affected, how to spot the signs and how to respond effectively.