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MODERN SLAVERY charges have increased by more than a quarter, with a record numbers of cases flagged up, figures released today show.
The Crown Prosecution Service received 355 referrals from police and other agencies in the last year, leading to 239 suspects having charges brought against them.
Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said: “We are working in partnership with police and other partners from the outset to make sure we can build robust cases and deliver justice for victims.
“These cases are growing in size and complexity – that's why we have given our prosecutors extensive extra training.”
The average time from an alleged offence to completion of a case is now nearly three years, having doubled since 2015.
Modern slavery includes exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude and human trafficking.
An official estimate previously indicated that there were up to 13,000 potential victims in Britain, but experts have said that the number is now significantly higher.
