Modern slavery case backlog to be addressed

A backlog of thousands of modern slavery cases could be "eliminated" within two years, the government has said.

Latest figures show more than 23,000 suspected victims, including children, are still waiting for a decision from the Home Office regarding their status, including a woman at a safehouse in Sussex and a man paid £10 a day.

Some have already spent up to four years in a safe house, according to the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, who welcomed the ambitious plans but called for more prosecutions.

Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips MP announced on Friday that she would recruit 200 extra staff to "eliminate" the backlog, adding the issue was one of her "top priorities".

The average wait for a conclusive decision, external is more than 500 days, according to government figures.

Josie Hannett & Alex Bish, BBC South East Investigations Team; Jonathan Fagg, BBC News

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