Human Trafficking Workshop To Improve Victim Support

Improving support within Scotland for the victims of human trafficking is the first step in catching and prosecuting more of the serious organised crime groups responsible for it.

That was the message of a ground-breaking workshop being held in Edinburgh today (Tuesday 30 March 2010) that for the first time brings together the voluntary sector and law enforcement in Scotland.

The human trafficking workshop, held jointly by the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) and Scottish Government, is being attended by a range of voluntary and public sector organisations that provide victim support, including Migrant Helpline, TARA, Barnardos and the NHS.

Representatives from each police force in Scotland, including British Transport Police, and Crimestoppers are also attending the event.

The workshop aims to build consensus on how agencies can collectively improve the protection of victims, and also bridge the significant 'intelligence gap' that has so far prevented law enforcement in Scotland from bringing to justice more of the perpetrators of this sickening crime.

The workshop forms part of an action plan of work for the Scottish Intelligence Coordination Unit (SICU), which is an integral part of the SCDEA. The SICU will be home to Scotland's first dedicated expert resources for the coordination of intelligence around serious organised crime groups who are involved in the trafficking of human beings across Scotland. Over the next year, this dedicated team will build a more robust picture of human trafficking in Scotland and the criminal gangs involved.

Today's event represents a significant step towards improving that intelligence picture that will allow law enforcement and support agencies to better tackle the issue.

It is hoped that one of the outcomes of the workshop will be the creation of a multi-agency human trafficking working group involving law enforcement and support organisations that will meet regularly throughout the year to share information and develop responses.

The SCDEA is also keen to develop links with Crimestoppers to provide individuals, including victims, and organisations with the option to report information to the police anonymously.

Detective Chief Superintendent Stephen Whitelock, Head of Intelligence Group at the SCDEA, explained: "Human trafficking is an appalling crime that has a devastating impact on victims and there are clear links to other forms of organised crime."

Current intelligence suggests that less than two per cent of serious organised crime groups in Scotland are involved in the trafficking of human beings, but we need to do more to improve our knowledge about who is involved, who the victims are, and how we can help them.

This will require the effort of more than just law enforcement. Organisations across the public, private and voluntary sector need to work together more effectively to share information and resources, and to implement joined-up action to rescue victims and prosecute the perpetrators of this crime.

Victims who for example may have been trafficked into prostitution have traditionally been reluctant to engage with law enforcement because of concerns over what may then happen to themselves.

Law enforcement hasn't always been as aware of that as it should and we need to turn round that perception.

If victims don't feel confident and able to work with us, the only people who benefit in the long-term are the traffickers.

Partnership working and collaboration is central to developing more effective responses and that's why this event is so important. The organisations that are meeting today have varying levels and types of information on human trafficking.

Bringing that information together is crucial if we are to identify victims, provide them with appropriate care and support, and ensure the perpetrators of this crime are punished.

Mike Emberson, Chief Executive at Migrant Helpline, who is speaking at today's event, said: "We already work alongside a range of organisations, including a number of police forces in England, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and other UK law enforcement agencies, such as the UK Human Trafficking Centre and SOCA, to support the victims of human trafficking. The work we have been involved in has included developing new processes and systems to support this multi-agency approach. Together we have a lot to learn, but so far it has been working very well. It is very encouraging to see Scotland embracing this approach and adding its own experiences and expertise to the mix."

The voluntary sector and law enforcement have common goals when it comes to supporting human trafficking victims.

Our agendas are compatible and those of us working in the voluntary sector must look to review and refine our understanding of law enforcement, just as they are doing with their understanding of victims and those who support them.

If we can provide better support to victims, we can secure more prosecutions, which in turn will lead to less victims of this degrading crime.

The SICU action plan includes a number of other measures to improve knowledge and responses, including forging links with Regional Intelligence Units (RIU) across the UK to share information, and continued awareness training for staff across the Scottish Police Service, delivered by the SICU in partnership with Scottish Police Forces and the Scottish Police College.