New data shows that the U.K. government’s program for victims of violent crime and modern slavery is failing to help those it was designed to support. As reported by The Independent, modern slavery survivors who applied to the Home Office for help are unlikely to receive compensation for years, if at all. This failure leaves them without support and extremely vulnerable to re-exploitation.

“Horrendous and clear failing”

In 2023, the Home Office assessed over 8,000 people as victims of modern slavery. Data collected by the charity After Exploitation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) shows that between January 2023 and June 2024, authorities awarded financial compensation to fewer than five non-U.K. nationals. After reviewing the figures showing how few people can access support, the U.K. anti-slavery commissioner Elanor Lyons called the situation a “horrendous and clear failing” of the system.

Commissioner Lyons said:

“They deserve and are entitled to compensation and more must be done to ensure they can access it. This is critical to their recovery, and preventing re-exploitation that we know can occur when victims have insufficient means to rebuild their lives.”

The guidelines define a violent crime as a physical attack, a sexual assault, arson, or a threat against a person. Despite the definition, nine of these cases were denied compensation because the abuse did not amount to a “crime of violence”. On top of that, seven survivors who applied in 2021 have yet to receive a decision on top of thirteen from 2022 who are also still waiting.

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