Open letter: Government must release data on slavery

We ask that the UK Government release data on victims of human trafficking and slavery

Human trafficking is recognised as a serious criminal offence, which often leaves survivors with a legacy of physical and emotional abuse. Yet, we now know that many rebuilding their lives after slavery must also live with the threat of deportation or detention by UK authorities.
 
Last year alone, 507 potential victims of human trafficking were held in prison-like settings. A number of victims were also deported against their will, despite a strong body of research outlining the risk of re-trafficking, social exclusion and gang reprisals facing victims after return.
 
We believe that a lack of data transparency has allowed trafficking victims slip through the net. Accountability is needed to protect survivors.
 
For years, charities, journalists and MPs were led to believe that no such evidence of trafficking outcomes existed. However, we now know that highly-detailed and readily-available information on trafficking outcomes could be subject to the same scrutiny as existing statistics on asylum, deportation and detention.
 
As the Government releases its quarterly immigration statistics today, we ask that a serious commitment is made to disclosing what happens to those who have been exploited in the UK. By understanding how many trafficking and slavery victims secure protection, and the scale of detention and deportation amongst trafficking victims, we can begin to understand what changes are needed to improve processes intended to identify and support them.