No charges brought in over 1700 slavery and trafficking crimes in Yorkshire, investigation reveals

Police forces have failed to bring charges in Yorkshire for more than 1,700 slavery and trafficking crimes since the 2015 Modern Slavery Act was passed.

The landmark legislation was designed to crack down on the “appalling crime” – which ranges from forced prostitution to labour exploitation and domestic servitude – with simplified offences and tougher punishments.

But a JPIMedia investigation has exposed the extent to which perpetrators are escaping justice, with just 4.4 per cent of modern slavery offences recorded by English and Welsh police forces between 2015 and September 2020 resulting in a charge.

Some 19,000 crimes in England and Wales have not led to charges being brought, according to the investigation.

In West Yorkshire, no charges have been brought in 1,098 cases; in South Yorkshire none have been brought in 406 cases; in the Humber no charges have been brought in 160 cases; and in North Yorkshire none have been brought in 88 cases.

In 2015-16, nationally, 23.7 per cent of cases saw charges brought; in 2016-17, the charge rate was 8.3 per cent; in 2017-18, 6.7 per cent; in 2018-19, four per cent; and in 2019-20, 2.9 per cent.

Figures published since the coronavirus pandemic engulfed the UK reveal the charge rate has plummeted further still, to just two per cent between April and September last year.

The figures refer to the period in which an offence outcome was recorded, not when the offence took place.

Cases are not recorded until they have been closed or a charge brought.

It means a total of 19,175 cases across Britain have seen no action taken.

Just two cases of modern slavery crimes that have been brought to court have ended with a conviction in West Yorkshire, and there have been no convictions in North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire or the Humber.

Hull MP Diana Johnson, who has long campaigned on issues around modern slavery and sat on the committee for the Modern Slavery Act while it was at bill stage, said: “I’m not surprised at these figures.

“The fundamental problem is the flawed nature of the Modern Slavery Act.

“There is a flaw in the law and the ability to prosecute cases and bring them into court. It’s time for a look at that legislation again.

“Although there hasn’t been so much movement of people during the pandemic, for those who are here, they have been hidden away even more now because of Covid restrictions.”

Ms Johnson’s constituency in Hull was the birthplace of William Wilberforce, the 18th century anti-slavery campaigner and parliamentarian.

Safeguarding Minister Victoria Atkins said the Home Office has allocated £2m to support police with modern slavery work this year and invested £11.3m over the past three years into the Modern Slavery Transformation Programme to boost prosecutions.