19,000 modern slavery probes closed without charges, local news investigation discovers

A new project on modern slavery from the award-winning JPIMedia Investigation team has launched today.

‘An Unbroken Chain: Modern Slavery in the UK’ examines the progress of the landmark 2015 Modern Slavery Act — and sister legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland — almost six years on.

A mix of open data analysis, freedom of information requests and in-depth case studies has uncovered shocking failings by the criminal justice system to hold perpetrators of these heinous crimes to account.

Fewer than one in 20 slavery and trafficking offences have resulted in police action, with more than 19,000 cases closed without charges being brought.

Meanwhile the Crown Prosecution Service has been accused of failing to use the legislation to secure fitting jail sentences, with four out of five court cases unsuccessful and many of those convicted walking free with nothing more than a fine or suspended sentence.

The eight-strong team of investigative reporters have spoken with stakeholders across the country, from police chiefs to the National Crime Agency, charities to survivors, to find out what is going wrong.

Experts have described how “shameful gaps in the system” are leaving victims without proper support and compensation to help them overcome their ordeals — and unwilling to work with authorities to bring down their exploiters.

Freedom of information requests have revealed how UK governments are failing in their legal duties to provide access to compensation for survivors, which experts say could leave them vulnerable to further exploitation.

Leading charities have rallied together with JPIMedia to call for an abandoned Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry into modern slavery to be urgently resumed, to address systemic failings and heightened vulnerabilities caused by Covid and Brexit.

The investigation covers four major themes: policing modern slavery; gaps in the system; the modern day slaves; and life after slavery.

Issues examined range from sexual exploitation of trafficked women, abuse of children by county lines drug gangs, failures to screen detained migrants for signs of trafficking, and councils using suppliers that do not comply with anti-slavery rules.

Harriet Clugston, acting JPIMedia data and investigations editor, said: “The Modern Slavery Act was touted by ministers as a world-leading crackdown on the horrific trade in human beings, promising it would send the strongest possible message to criminals that they would be arrested and locked up.

“Our investigation tells a different story. We instead paint a picture of criminals free to act with impunity, safe in the knowledge that our criminal justice system is not up to the task of tackling their activities.

“It’s clear the system needs radical change — and we hope our investigation can break the inertia gripping government.”

Nick Mitchell, JPIMedia head of content development, said: “This is yet another important piece of work from JPI’s investigations team, built on impressive work from eight talented reporters across the nation, working collaboratively to shed light on the situation.

“Modern slavery is an issue which all too often flies under the radar, even when it’s hidden in plain sight in our communities, but this vital investigation highlights the need for more action to stamp it out, and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

The team will also this week launch the first episode of its new investigative journalism podcast Uncovered, hosted by Harriet Clugston and Ethan Shone.