Human Trafficking and Sexual Offences: Airports
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2026 to question 114146 titled Human Trafficking and Sexual Offences: Airports, what assessment her Department has made of trends in sex trafficking involving (a) arrivals into and (b) departures from UK airports in each of the last ten years.
Answered by Mike Tapp
Currently there is limited data covering this area, however a total of 23,411 potential victims of modern slavery were referred to the Home Office (HO) in 2025, representing a 22% increase compared to the preceding year (19,117). The number of referrals made in this year is the highest in any year since the NRM began in 2009, overtaking the record from the previous year (2024). Females most often reported sexual exploitation (28%; 1,679). As a result, the Government is working closely with law enforcement to tackle the drivers of trafficking for sexual exploitation, including through operational activity aimed at tackling modern slavery threats, and targeting prolific perpetrators.
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