Vulnerable teenagers in the UK are increasingly being recruited by pimps through the internet, according to the report by Eleanor Lyons, the independent anti-slavery commissioner. The study highlighted a rise in sexual exploitation, with criminal gangs using adult service websites to control victims. Survivors shared experiences of being lured with promises of glamour and financial independence. The report noted a significant increase in referrals for modern slavery support, rising from 1,114 in 2020 to 2,076 in 2025. Ms Lyons said: “There is a concerning cultural shift in which sexual exploitation is increasingly mainstreamed.” She has called for a complete overhaul of websites advertising sexual services, warning that they can act as “accelerators” of exploitation.
