With 122,000 people in the UK in modern slavery, it’s likely you might meet a victim. If you believe a person is being trafficked and is in immediate danger, you should call 999 straight away. You can also call the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700 or submit a report online via the link below.
Modern slavery is a hidden crime affecting an estimated 50 million people worldwide – including an estimated 122,000 in the UK – and it’s hidden in plain sight, in car washes, nail bars, hotels and restaurants.
Young people are coerced into drug distribution and homes are taken over by gangs. Of those referred for criminal exploitation in the UK, most are young people aged 17 or under, with 45% being British boys.
As a responsible business, Rathbones believes modern slavery is incompatible with the values of a fair, just, and sustainable society, and that investors like us play a critical role to play in identifying, addressing, and preventing exploitation.
It’s why we set-up the Votes Against Slavery coalition and it’s also why we’re proud to partner with Justice & Care to eradicate all forms of modern slavery and trafficking. By supporting their work, we help advance systemic change, protect vulnerable individuals, and promote transparency and accountability across supply chains and investment portfolios.
About Justice & Care
Justice & Care began its work in India, supporting women and girls trafficked into sexual exploitation to walk free. Today, the charity works in Bangladesh and the UK and collaborates with more than 150 partners worldwide. Their teams work alongside police, border force, and governments to dismantle criminal networks, support survivors, and drive policy change.
Justice & Care’s work is recognised by Parliament, the Home Affairs Select Committee, and international bodies for its impact and innovation. Their model is proven, independently evaluated, and recommended for national roll-out.
About the partnership
Rathbones’ support of Justice & Care is focused around their award-winning Victim Navigator Programme, which embeds specialist advocates within police teams, ensuring survivors receive holistic care and are empowered to engage with investigations. This approach has led to a dramatic increase in survivor engagement with police, improved recovery outcomes, and more traffickers brought to justice.
Together we support:
- Survivor support and recovery – funding specialist care, legal advocacy, and long-term rehabilitation for survivors of trafficking and exploitation.
- Policy and system reform – helping Justice & Care translate frontline insights into recommendations for new laws, improved victim protection, and stronger prosecutions.
- Research and prevention – supporting studies into young adult trafficking and the development of targeted prevention programmes.
- Employee volunteering – Rathbones colleagues giving time to support awareness campaigns, fundraising, and survivor empowerment initiatives.
- Community outreach – raising awareness of the signs of modern slavery and how consumers and investors can help fight exploitation.
Our shared aim is that survivors receive the support and justice they deserve, and that systems are reformed to prevent exploitation. We measure success by the number of survivors supported, convictions secured, professionals trained, and policy changes achieved – and we report learnings transparently so the work can scale.
Impact and results
Since its inception in the UK in 2019, Justice & Care has achieved:
92%
of survivors supported by its Victim Navigators engage with police investigations, compared to just 44% without this support.
82%
of survivors have demonstrated overall progress in their recovery.
89%
of frontline professionals (police, border force, social workers) have reported improved knowledge and confidence in supporting victims after Justice & Care training.
720+ survivors
with highly complex needs supported since inception in 2019.
405 years
of combined jail time for 70 exploiters convicted.
500+
potential victims found from information provided by survivors, leading to more than 300 additional arrests.
We’re proud to partner with Rathbones to support our award-winning Victim Navigator programme. Embedded within the Police, Victim Navigators provide tailored, trauma-informed support to modern slavery survivors, helping them recover and engage with the justice system. With holistic aftercare, survivors gain economic stability, improved wellbeing and stronger social connections.
How you can fight slavery
There are a number of ways to engage with Justice & Care and its vital work:
Think before you buy
Consumers have power in their wallets, so think before you buy. For example, a £4 t-shirt can only be produced by child labour, and cash-only nail bars and car washes often feature slavery. Many victims are hidden in supply chains, private homes, and even in care systems.
