Recommendation 31

The high number of referrals into the National Referral Mechanism and the number of live investigations together highlight the ability to identify human trafficking and exploitation that occurs in the UK. These cases are resource-intensive and potentially complex; however, the low prosecution rates are unacceptable. The criminal justice system faces constant competing resource demands in this area; however, it needs to Human trafficking 75 be a Government priority to increase the charging and conviction rates for modern slavery and human trafficking offences, to reflect the seriousness of this crime.