The UK Home Office has cleared the backlog of modern slavery cases awaiting a final decision, cutting the queue by 80% from its 2023 peak. As of 30 September 2026, 6,277 cases were waiting for a conclusive grounds decision, compared with 31,101 at the peak in 2023.

The government says it has now delivered on its 2024 commitment to eradicate the backlog within 2 years. The conclusive grounds decision is the final ruling in the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) — the UK's framework for identifying and supporting potential victims of modern slavery — on whether someone is recognised as a victim based on all available evidence.

What has changed for victims and applicants?

Faster decisions mean people who have suffered exploitation spend less time waiting for recognition of their victim status, which the government says can support their recovery. Survivors previously faced long delays before receiving certainty about their status.

At the same time, quicker decisions remove a barrier to immigration removal for those with no right to remain in the UK. The government states that people with no right to be in the country had been able to use pending claims to disrupt their removal.

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Satvir Kaur, said: "We inherited an inefficient modern slavery system completely out of control. Two years ago, we promised to end the unacceptable delays. We have delivered on that promise."

She added: "We have restored order to a system where delays meant survivors who had suffered horrific abuse were waiting too long for certainty. People with no right to be here were able to disrupt removals."

Who does this affect?

The change affects two broad groups within the NRM:

• Recognised victims of modern slavery, who now receive their conclusive grounds decision faster and gain certainty about their status sooner.
• Individuals with no right to remain, for whom a completed decision removes a procedural obstacle to removal from the UK.

The reduction represents tens of thousands fewer cases waiting for a decision compared with the 2023 peak.

What changes for skilled worker visa holders?

The government has also changed the Immigration Rules to allow individuals on skilled worker visas who are recognised as victims of modern slavery to work for any employer for the remaining duration of their visa.

This means recognised victims on skilled worker visas can leave exploitative employers without losing their right to work. Shorter wait times for the conclusive grounds decision make this flexibility usable sooner.

What comes next: the Immigration and Asylum Bill

The backlog clearance comes as the government strengthens protections for victims through the Immigration and Asylum Bill. The bill will:

• protect essential safeguards for survivors;
• close opportunities for abuse of the system by those vexatiously seeking to block their legitimate removal from the UK;
• strengthen law enforcement powers;
• place tougher obligations on businesses and public bodies to tackle exploitation in their supply chains.

Minister Kaur said fulfilling the commitment means the government "can identify and protect victims more quickly, tackle misuse, and go after criminal gangs profiling from human misery" — referring to criminal gangs profiting from human misery.

The government states that together these measures are identifying victims faster, protecting them from further exploitation, curbing misuse and maintaining public confidence in the system. Readers seeking confirmation of their own case status should consult official Home Office guidance on the National Referral Mechanism.