A new report from centre-right think-tank Bright Blue challenges one of the most persistent political narratives in Britain’s immigration debate: that people who claim asylum are gaming the modern-slavery referral system to block or delay removal.
Bright Blue analysts examined referral data from the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) between 2015 and 2025, interviewed first-responder agencies and reviewed 150 anonymised Home Office case files. They found that 90 per cent of referrals made by Border Force, police, local authorities and NGOs were assessed by competent authorities as having ‘reasonable grounds’ to suspect the individual was a victim of trafficking or slavery.
Although referrals have risen six-fold in a decade – from about 3,000 in 2015 to more than 19,000 last year – the report argues that the increase is driven by improved detection, wider public-sector awareness and genuine growth in labour and sexual exploitation, rather than opportunistic abuse by asylum seekers. Only three per cent of referrals originated from immigration detention centres, undermining claims that detainees routinely file spurious modern-slavery claims to secure release.
![Think-tank finds modern slavery claims by UK asylum seekers are largely genuine]()
For those seeking practical guidance on navigating the UK’s constantly evolving immigration and compliance landscape, VisaHQ offers tailored support with everything from employee visa applications to right-to-work documentation. Their London-based experts help organisations stay aligned with modern-slavery safeguards and sponsor-licence duties. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/.
Bright Blue warns ministers that restricting access to the NRM, as mooted in recent policy consultations, would do little to cut asylum numbers but would expose genuine victims to re-trafficking and undermine the UK’s obligations under the Council of Europe convention. Instead, it recommends funding specialist training so that Border Force officers can spot exploitation indicators at the point of arrival and fast-track clear cases, reducing downstream pressure on the system.
For employers, the findings reinforce the importance of robust supply-chain due-diligence. Companies relying on seasonal or outsourced labour face higher scrutiny, and HR teams are advised to review right-to-work checks and modern-slavery statements ahead of the 2026 reporting cycle.
Bright Blue analysts examined referral data from the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) between 2015 and 2025, interviewed first-responder agencies and reviewed 150 anonymised Home Office case files. They found that 90 per cent of referrals made by Border Force, police, local authorities and NGOs were assessed by competent authorities as having ‘reasonable grounds’ to suspect the individual was a victim of trafficking or slavery.
Although referrals have risen six-fold in a decade – from about 3,000 in 2015 to more than 19,000 last year – the report argues that the increase is driven by improved detection, wider public-sector awareness and genuine growth in labour and sexual exploitation, rather than opportunistic abuse by asylum seekers. Only three per cent of referrals originated from immigration detention centres, undermining claims that detainees routinely file spurious modern-slavery claims to secure release.
For those seeking practical guidance on navigating the UK’s constantly evolving immigration and compliance landscape, VisaHQ offers tailored support with everything from employee visa applications to right-to-work documentation. Their London-based experts help organisations stay aligned with modern-slavery safeguards and sponsor-licence duties. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/.
Bright Blue warns ministers that restricting access to the NRM, as mooted in recent policy consultations, would do little to cut asylum numbers but would expose genuine victims to re-trafficking and undermine the UK’s obligations under the Council of Europe convention. Instead, it recommends funding specialist training so that Border Force officers can spot exploitation indicators at the point of arrival and fast-track clear cases, reducing downstream pressure on the system.
For employers, the findings reinforce the importance of robust supply-chain due-diligence. Companies relying on seasonal or outsourced labour face higher scrutiny, and HR teams are advised to review right-to-work checks and modern-slavery statements ahead of the 2026 reporting cycle.
