The government has eliminated the backlog of modern slavery cases awaiting a final decision, meaning victims get certainty sooner and removals can happen faster where there is no right to remain.
The backlog was in the National Referral Mechanism, the UK’s framework for identifying and supporting potential victims of modern slavery, which the government said it inherited in disarray.
New figures show the Home Office has met its 2024 commitment to eradicate the backlog within two years.
As of 30 September 2026, 6,277 cases were awaiting a conclusive grounds decision, the final decision on whether someone is recognised as a victim, down 80% from a peak of 31,101 in 2023. The government said tens of thousands fewer cases are now waiting.
Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Satvir Kaur, said: “We inherited an inefficient modern slavery system completely out of control. Two years ago, we promised to end the unacceptable delays. We have delivered on that promise.”
“We have restored order to a system where delays meant survivors who had suffered horrific abuse were waiting too long for certainty. People with no right to be here were able to disrupt removals.”
The Home Office said faster decisions help victims spend less time waiting for recognition, which supports recovery, and remove a barrier to immigration removal for those with no right to be in the UK.
The government is also changing the Immigration Rules to allow people on skilled worker visas who are recognised as victims to work for any employer for the remainder of their visa, so they can leave exploitative employers.
The achievement comes as ministers seek to strengthen protections through the Immigration and Asylum Bill, which it says will protect safeguards for survivors while closing loopholes for those trying to block removal, as well as strengthening law enforcement powers and placing tougher duties on businesses and public bodies to tackle exploitation in supply chains.
