Human Trafficking:
A Police Response
DS Robin Veitch,
National Human Trafficking Unit
Introduction
• Police Scotland – National Human Trafficking Unit
• A Scottish Perspective
• Case study
• Areas of exploitation
• Conclusion
National Human Trafficking Unit
• Public Protection Unit
• Scottish Crime Campus, Gartcosh
• Specialist Crime Departments
• Partner Law Enforcement Agencies
Specialist Crime Division Governance
Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone
Crime & Operational Support
Assistant Chief Constable Ruaraidh Nicolson
Organised Crime, Counter Terrorism &
Safer Communities
Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham
Major Crime & Public Protection
Major Crime
Public Protection
&
Divisional Crime
Intelligence
Support
Support, Coordination & Safer
Communities
Organised Crime
&
Counter Terrorism
Human Trafficking – Informed Strategy
• Police Scotland Strategic Group
• Police Scotland Tactical Group
• Police Scotland Partners Group
• Anti Trafficking Progress Group
• National Human Trafficking Unit
• 14 Divisional Human Trafficking Champions
14 Divisions
Key:
Division 1 Aberdeen City
Division 2 Aberdeenshire and Moray
Division 3 Tayside
Division 4 Highland and Islands
Division 5 Forth Valley
Division 6 Edinburgh City
Division 7 The Lothians and Scottish
Borders
Division 8 Fife
Division 9 Glasgow
Division 10 Ayrshire
Division 11 Lanarkshire
Division 12 Argyll and Bute & West
Dunbartonshire
Division 13 Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
Division 14 Dumfries and Galloway
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4
2
3
12
8
5
13 9
6
11
7
10
14
1
Resources
• Victim Care Strategy
• e-learning package
• Standard Operating Procedure
• Human Trafficking Handbook
• Interview Strategies
Commonwealth Games 2014
• Action Plan
• Intelligence Requirement
• No increase in trafficking
• Increase in enquiries
Human Trafficking
• April 2014 – NHTU Statistics
• 73 Incidents
• 17 Crimes (some outwith Scotland)
• 6 Reports submitted (Police Scotland)
NRM Figures Jan - June 2014
• 56 Potential Victims
• 41 Adults
• 15 Children (persons under 18)
Source Countries
Types of Exploitation - Children
Police Investigation
• Victim focussed – what are their needs/requirements
• Medical assistance
• TARA – Migrant Help – SWD (assistance for victim)
• Brief statement to ensure safety of others
• Work closely with NGO’s to facilitate further statement at pace of
victim
• Work towards best outcome for victim
Difficulties of Investigation
Difficulties include:
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Language
Geography
Vulnerability
Fear
Traumatisation
Consent/understanding of this
Victim Vulnerability
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Debt Bonded
Alcohol or drug dependent
Mental health issues
Vulnerable due to age
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Homeless
Jobless
Legal or illegal migrant
Can’t speak english
Types of Exploitation - Scotland
Labour Exploitation
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Large amount of manual labour required
European workers – usually low paid in large groups
Illegal workers – low paid, kept in/provided accommodation
Unsavoury or laborious work
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Agriculture
Fishing
Construction
Demolition
Restaurant worker
Cannabis Cultivation
Sexual Exploitation
• Normally found in large cities and towns
• Private Low Rent Flats, Hotels, Lap Dancing Bars, Saunas
• Online Escort Sites
• Any Nationality is susceptible
• Mostly Female but also transgender
• Most alert to fact that one female occupant of premises does not
constitute a brothel
Domestic Servitude
• Predominantly found in Asian, African and Middle Eastern
cultures
• House Servants – Child minders, Cleaning etc.
• Victims often part of Forced or Arranged Marriage
• Control measures are difficult to understand and often have
freedom of movement
Organ Trafficking
• Persons moved for purposes of organ harvesting
• Semen or blood may also be harvested
• Mainly seen in Balkan States or Far East
• Only 2 Cases in UK – Chinese Community
Criminal Exploitation
• Usually found in large Towns and Cities
• Predominantly Vulnerable or Young Persons
• Victims normally controlled by OCG
• Shoplifting, Cannabis Cultivation, Scrap Metal Theft, Forced
Begging
• Sometimes extreme control measures
EU Directive 2011/36
Article 8 –
“member states shall take all necessary steps to ensure
that they are entitled not to prosecute or impose
penalties on victims of trafficking”
Main Offences Associated with Human Trafficking
Scottish Legislation is as follows:
Section 4, Asylum and Immigration Act (Treatment of Claimants etc) Act
2004(incorporates the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010
changes to provisions) – General Exploitation
Section 22, Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (as amended by section 46
of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010) – Trafficking in
Prostitution
Section 47 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010
provides for the offence of knowingly holding someone in slavery or servitude, or
requiring them to perform forced or compulsory labour
Legislation - Scotland
• Although disparate understandable
• Reflects Palermo Protocol
• Allowance made for vulnerability through age
• 19 cases reported by police over past two years
Conclusion
• Legal and moral duty
• Partnership Working
• Identify and support victims
• International Engagement
• Approach in Police Scotland, focused, victim centred
Contact
SCDhumantrafficking@scotland.pnn.police.uk
National Human Trafficking Unit
Telephone: 01236 818475
Police – 101 Emergency – 999
Crime stoppers – 0800 555 111
Modern Slavery Helpline – 0800 0121 700