It accounted for capturing roughly 6-10% of slave ships and as a result freed around 150,000 Africans. In addition, the implementation of the squadron had a positive impact in encouraging other nations to follow suit, with subsequent anti-slavery laws being adopted. Diplomatic pressure prevented several hundred thousand more people from being shipped from Africa.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) data shows that around one in six people in the UK were in relative low income (relative poverty) before housing costs in 2022/23. This rises to just over one in five people once housing costs are accounted for.
The 150-strong group, who were told not to heckle, were each paid £150 "disturbance money" and £30 towards their expenses, meaning at least £27,000 of licence payers' money was used.