2025

In 2025, 23,411 potential victims of modern slavery were referred to the Home Office nationally, a 22% increase from the previous year (19,117 referrals). This is the highest number of referrals recorded since the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) was established. The Home Office also received 7,130 Duty to Notify (DtN) reports for adult potential victims in 2025; this is the highest annual total since the DtN process began. 

66% of all Conclusive Grounds Decisions made in 2025 were positive, identifying those individuals referred as victims of modern slavery. The average waiting time for a Conclusive Grounds Decision has decreased from 120 days in 2024 to 76 in 2025. 

The three most common nationalities of potential victims referred into the NRM in 2025 were UK nationals (22%, 5,110), Eritrean nationals (13%, 3,083), and Vietnamese nationals (9%, 1,998). Of all referrals, 70% (16,362) were adults at the point of referral, an increase from 68% in 2024. The proportion of children referred decreased from 32% in 2024 to 30% (7,028) in 2025. The age at referral was unknown in 21 cases.  (Source: Modern slavery: National Referral Mechanism and Duty to Notify statistics UK, end of year summary 2025 – GOV.UK) 

In 2025, Bexley recorded 88 NRM referrals and 8 DtNs for adults who did not consent to a referral, representing 96 potential victims of modern slavery identified locally.   

Of these, 63 referrals concerned children (65.6%), and 33 related to adults (34.4%). This differs significantly from the national picture, where 70% of NRM referrals involve adults and 30% involve children.   

In terms of gender, 52 referrals (54.2%) were for males, 36 (34.6%) for females, with 8 where gender was not recorded.   

Locally, the largest proportion of victims were British Nationals (47.9%), followed by Albanian (5.2%) and Chinese (5.2%) nationals. While British nationals asre the most common victim group is consistent nationally, the other nationalities identified in Bexley differ from wider national trends.   

The most common exploitation types were Criminal Exploitation (48 referrals), Sexual Exploitation (25 referrals) and Forced Labour (10 referrals). Forced criminality was most frequently linked to County Lines activity. We have also continued to see an increase in cases involving multiple forms of exploitation, particularly where children are subjected to both criminal and sexual exploitation.   

Source: Bexley’s Local NRM and DtN Spreadsheet

2024

In 2024, Bexley recorded 88 NRM referrals and 2 Duty to Notifies in 2024, representing a total of 90 concerns and placing the borough as the 6th highest referrer in the UK, with our neighbouring Kent ranked first (Bexley’s NRM and DtN Spreadsheet). This marks a significant increase from previous years and reflects a more balanced identification of both adult and child victims, each group accounting for 50% of referrals. This is a notable shift from 2023, when only 25% of referrals were adults. Most victims in Bexley were British nationals, followed by Bangladeshi, Nigerian, and Indian individuals, which differs from the national picture where Albanian and Vietnamese victims are more prevalent.

The most common forms of exploitation locally were Forced Criminality (35 referrals), Forced Labour (30), and Sexual Exploitation (5). Forced Criminality was most often linked to County Lines activity, while Forced Labour was connected to exploitation of workers on a visa. There has also been an increase in the identification of multiple forms of exploitation, particularly among children, such as the co-occurrence of criminal and sexual exploitation (Bexley’s NRM and DtN Spreadsheet).

Local data from the London Borough of Bexley mirrors national trends, with criminal exploitation remaining the most reported form, closely followed by labour exploitation (Bexley’s NRM and DtN Spreadsheet). Of particular concern are the 23 child referrals linked to criminal exploitation, often associated with County Lines activity. While some children have known links to gangs operating in neighbouring boroughs, others are exploited by individuals acting independently, highlighting the varied nature of perpetrators. This reinforces the importance of recognising the signs of exploitation beyond gang involvement and ensuring frontline professionals are equipped to respond effectively. Modern Slavery is not confined to specific areas or groups. It is a widespread, often hidden issue embedded in everyday environments, and our response must reflect that complexity.

We see these trends reflected nationally, in 2024 the UK recorded its highest number of NRM referrals since the system began, with 19,125 potential victims referred to the Home Office - a 13% increase from 2023 (16,990 referrals) (Modern Slavery: National Referral Mechanism and Duty to Notify statistics UK, end of year summary 2024).

2023

In 2023, the London Borough of Bexley recorded 51 modern slavery referrals, representing a 54% increase from 33 referrals in 2022 (Child victim data from the Bexley Child Devolved Decision-Making Panel; adult victim data from the Home Office end of year statistics 2023). 

The most common forms of exploitation identified nationally were Criminal Exploitation and Labour Exploitation. Criminal Exploitation was the most frequently reported exploitation type overall, accounting for 28% of all referrals, while Labour Exploitation was the most common form among adults. Child victims were most often referred for Criminal Exploitation, accounting for 42% of child referrals. Referrals linked to County Lines activity continued to be a significant feature of Criminal Exploitation cases, with 1,559 referrals nationally flagged as County Lines, the majority involving male children.

17,004 potential victims referred to the NRM in 2023, the highest annual number recorded since the framework was established in 2009. British nationals were the most commonly referred nationality, accounting for 25% (4,299) of referrals, followed by Albanian nationals at 24% (4,052) and Vietnamese nationals at 6% (991). The majority of British nationals referred were children (78%), while most Albanian and Vietnamese nationals referred were adults, demonstrating the varied demographics of modern slavery victims across the UK (Modern Slavery: National Referral Mechanism and Duty to Notify Statistics UK, End of Year Summary 2023).