Medaille Trust has joined other organisations in calling on parliamentarians scrutinising the Immigration and Asylum Bill to support amendments that would strengthen the role of charities and other non-statutory organisations in identifying and referring potential survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery.
Only authorised First Responder Organisations (FROs) can refer potential victims to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the UK’s framework for identifying and supporting survivors of modern slavery. Both statutory and non-statutory organisations play an important role in this process, but charities with specialist expertise can offer a trusted, survivor-centred approach to referrals.
Organisations supporting potential survivors report that many people are afraid of public authorities. Some worry that statutory First Responder Organisations may prioritise criminal investigations over their safety, or share information with other government bodies. Non-statutory First Responder Organisations (NSFROs), which often include specialist charities and non-governmental organisations, can help survivors feel safer when coming forward and ensure their experiences and support needs are properly understood.
The evidence highlights the importance of non-statutory referrals. Between the second quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026, referrals made by NSFROs received a positive Reasonable Grounds decision in 81% of cases. This compares with 73% for referrals by local authorities, 62% for police referrals and 47% for referrals by other government agencies.
Despite their important contribution, non-statutory organisations continue to face capacity challenges as the number of potential survivors needing support increases. The sector has called for more independent NSFROs, improved training and guidance for first responders, and adequate resources to help ensure survivors can access the identification and support they need.
Medaille Trust is proud to be a Non-Statutory First Responder Organisation and supports efforts to expand this provision in the future. Strengthening the role and capacity of specialist charities will help more survivors come forward, have their experiences recognised and access appropriate support.
By working together, organisations can help build a more effective, accessible and survivor-centred response to modern slavery.
Read full report here.
