13,000 people working as slaves in UK, according to report

13,000 people working as slaves in UK, according to report, As many as 13,000 people are being held as slaves in the UK, government figures have revealed.

The number is about four times as many as suspected, reports The Guardian.

The estimate covers those people thought to be working in areas such as the sex trade and as domestic staff.

Previously it was thought "just" fewer than 3,000 people were being held as slaves.

“The estimated scale of the problem in modern Britain is shocking and these new figures starkly reinforce the case for urgent action,” said senior British government minister Theresa May.

Many of the victims are people trafficked into Britain from countries such as Romania, Albania and Nigeria.

But there were also victims from the UK.

Last year, three woman were rescued from a London house where they were said to have been held against their will for three decades.