Oxfordshire anti-slavery team logs more than 300 reported cases

Victims include brothel workers and people exploited by drugs gangs

More than 15 cases of suspected modern slavery are recorded in Oxfordshire each month, figures suggest.

Examples included a brothel in a guesthouse where long-term residents were being financially exploited by the landlady, the county's anti-slavery coordinator Nicola Bell said.

In a report to Oxford City Council, she said 379 cases were logged between January 2022, when her role was created, and December 2023.

She said 43 victims had been protected.

Ms Bell highlighted other successes including the closure of two brothels and a man who was rehoused after being threatened by drug dealers.

Justine Carter, director of anti-slavery charity Unseen which operates a helpline, said the figures were likely to be the "tip of the iceberg".

She said: "It's what we see right across the country. In the UK, there is an estimate of 122,000 people at any one time in situations of slavery and exploitation."

Ms Carter said examples included being forced to shoplift, beg or move and sell drugs.

More than half of the reported victims in Oxfordshire were British, Albanian or Romanian, the council study said.

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