More than 15 cases of suspected modern slavery are recorded in Oxfordshire every month, figures suggest. Examples included a brothel in a hostel where long-term residents were being financially exploited by the landlady, said county anti-slavery co-ordinator Nicola Bell. In a report to Oxford City Council, it said 379 cases were recorded between January 2022 and December 2023. In the UK, there are an estimated 122,000 people at any one time in situations of slavery and exploitation.” Ms Carter said examples included being forced to steal, beg or move and sell drugs. More than half of the victims reported in Oxfordshire were British, Albanian or Romanian, the council's study said.

Source: News 24 January 03, 2026 03:27 UTC