Modern Slavery Helpline Records Surge in Calls: Insights from Joanna Lewis, Safecall

In response to the findings that the Modern Slavery helpline received a record number of calls in 2023, which included a rise of 30% in potential victims in the care sector, I wanted to share the below comment from Joanna Lewis, managing director at whistleblowing hotline provider Safecall. It follows Safecall’s annual Benchmark report for 2023 where the highest ever number of reports about wrongdoing from over 130 countries were recorded and modern slavery emerged as a statistically significant area of concern within organisations for the first time since the Whistleblowing Report began in 1999, at 1%.

“The significant increase in calls to the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline in 2023 is a crucial indicator of the persistent challenges within our systems to protect the most vulnerable. The 30% rise in potential victims in the care sector particularly highlights an urgent need for enhanced vigilance and stronger safeguarding measures in environments meant to be secure havens. This is why Safecall advocates robust whistleblowing mechanisms as essential tools in the fight against such exploitation. These systems empower individuals to report wrongdoing safely and anonymously and enable them to play a pivotal role in the early detection and prevention of exploitation. We remain committed to supporting organisations in implementing effective whistleblowing frameworks that uphold human rights and foster a culture of transparency and accountability.”

Nicola Williamson

PR Consultant

MHW PR (MHW Ltd)