Annual Report of MSOIC Programme

ACC Jim Pearce

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime

I am pleased to introduce the Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit annual report for 2024/25. Over the last twelve months, the programme has continued to strengthen policing’s response to both threats, recognising the national priority they represent and the need for a co-ordinated and evidence led approach.

In modern slavery, national data indicates continued demand and complexity. While recorded crimes decreased slightly over the year, police National Referral Mechanism referrals remained broadly stable. This contrast underscores the continued challenge of translating potential exploitation into recorded crime and ensuring pathways from identification to investigation are clearly established. Live modern slavery investigations also saw a reduction but driven by deliberate data cleansing activity to improve accuracy in the national picture.

These figures highlight the ongoing importance of strong recording practices, confident investigative approaches, and appropriate safeguarding pathways, particularly where exploitation may be under reported or identified through non-police routes. The programme has focused on these areas by improving crime recording, developing cultural resources to support victim engagement, and expanding training to strengthen investigative capability ahead of the Government’s forthcoming Modern Slavery Action Plan.

In organised immigration crime, we have achieved a significant milestone with the completion of peer reviews across all 43 police forces in England and Wales. This represents the most comprehensive assessment of national policing capability in this area to date and provides a clear evidence base for improvement. Operationally, Project Terminus has enabled targeted and co-ordinated enforcement activity, reflected in a 63% increase in recorded disruptions over the year. The scale of activity delivered through Terminus highlights the importance of national co-ordination and demonstrates clear value for money through focused resource allocation and operational outcomes.

We recognise that challenges remain in both areas. Modern slavery continues to require improved investigative confidence, consistent recording practices, and effective pathways to safeguarding. In organised immigration crime, further development of threat assessment maturity, intelligence gathering and sharing, and consistent recording across all forces is needed to ensure a comprehensive national picture and effective disruption. The forthcoming HMICFRS inspection of policing’s response to organised immigration crime, expected in Spring 2025, will provide important external scrutiny and a platform for continued improvement in this area.

Our priorities for 2025/26 will include supporting forces to implement peer review findings, strengthening modern slavery investigative capability and ensuring funding continues to be directed to the highest harm threats and areas of demand.

I would like to thank colleagues and partners for their continued professionalism and commitment. Together we will continue to build capacity, strengthen consistency, and ensure policing is positioned to meet the challenges ahead.