Modern slavery victims in the U.K. are legally entitled to specialist support under the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract regardless of whether they are a U.K. national or imprisoned. But a new investigation by openDemocracy and After Exploitation reveals that hundreds of victims are likely being locked up as criminals instead of receiving support while their perpetrators remain free. 

“There are likely more victims of modern slavery in prison than there are traffickers”

The Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC) is the U.K.’s response to its international obligations laid out in the European Convention Against Trafficking. It’s supposed to ensure a vulnerable person is not re-trafficked into slavery and can rebuild their lives following trauma and abuse. Between March 2023 and June 2024, the Prison Service and the Ministry of Justice received 268 warnings from prison staff who suspected a prisoner was a potential victim of modern slavery and trafficking. Analyzing this warning system the research team found “there are likely more victims of modern slavery in prison than there are traffickers”. 

Maya Esslemont, the director of After Exploitation said: 

“It is incredibly common for victims of criminal exploitation to be punished first and supported second due to poor understanding of vulnerability and exploitation within the criminal justice system,” 

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