Justice for Victims and Survivors Starts with Support

If the criminal justice system exists for anyone, surely it is for the victims of crime. Survivors of violence and exploitation are some of the most vulnerable, yet, the criminal justice process is long and complex and fails to adequately take account of their trauma. That is why the opportunity to discuss the challenges faced by survivors as part of the Justice for All series is so important.

The road to justice for a survivor of modern slavery can be a long one. Although there has been an increase in evidence-led prosecutions, most still rely heavily on evidence from victims.[1] Despite this, survivors face many difficulties in taking part in the criminal justice process, contributing to continued challenge in prosecuting these cases.

When a modern slavery survivor first comes into contact with the police they are often at a point of crisis. Their priority is understandably on their basic needs like food, warm clothes, and a safe place to stay, rather than bringing their abusers to justice.   

Beyond immediate needs, the recovery process can be long. Continued instability in housing or immigration status or ongoing physical and mental health issues can consume survivors’ energy, leaving them unable to contemplate engaging with investigations. Survivors can be fearful of retaliation from their exploiters, wary of law enforcement, or experience stigma or shame deterring them from disclosing their abuse.[2] 

Other barriers to engaging survivors of exploitation come from the nature of the criminal justice system itself. These may not be present in all cases but can include inadequate training of police, a lack of multi-agency working, and poor communication with victims.[3]

These challenges are exacerbated by the complexity of modern slavery investigations which often take months or even years, compounded by current delays in the court system. Survivors we currently support have been advised their case has been scheduled for trial no earlier than 2030.  

Despite these systemic problems, at Justice & Care we have found that if you engage survivors early, helping them understand their choices and ensuring their priority needs are met, more of them feel able to participate in investigations and prosecutions. Without a Navigator, only c.44% of survivors engage with the police to support an investigation; with the support of a Navigator, the engagement rate rises to over 91%. [4]

Justice & Care’s Victim Navigators are embedded with law enforcement and support modern slavery survivors. While police teams focus on investigating the abusers, our Navigators ensure survivors feel safe and heard. They also provide a unique link between the police investigation and survivors. By keeping survivors informed and engaged with the investigation, preparing them to attend court, managing logistics, protection measures and emotional support, we empower survivors to play their part in seeing justice done.

One of the survivors we support recently said: “My navigator provided a bridge to services I couldn’t reach alone, they made me feel safe and heard during a confusing time.”

A criminal justice outcome may not be a priority for all survivors, but we have found that once their other needs are met, many want to play their part in seeing their abusers held to account. In most cases this is not for themselves, rather from a desire to protect others from the horrendous exploitation they suffered. 

Successful modern slavery prosecutions begin and end with enduring holistic support for survivors – from the moment they first come forward, to the end of the court process. If we truly want to see Justice for All, caring for victims and survivors must be at the forefront.

James Clarry

CEO, Justice & Care

[1] The Modern Slavery Act 2015: becoming world-leading again

[2] Alicia Heys, Barriers to prosecutions and convictions under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, MSPEC, 2025; Centre for Social Justice and Justice & Care, A Path to Freedom and Justice: a new vision for supporting victims of modern slavery, 2022

[3] Laura Pajon, Matthew Millings & David Passam, The victim’s journey: Workshop summary report, 2025

 [4] Justice & Care, Victim Navigator Pilot Final Evaluation, From Victim to Witness to Survivor, 2022