Report on human trafficking in Scotland

Scotland is taking vital steps towards tackling the problem of human trafficking, a new report by EHRC Scotland shows, with ‘a renewed impetus for action.’

The ‘Human Trafficking Inquiry Follow On’ report builds on the EHRC Scotland’s formal Inquiry of 2011. That inquiry made a series of ten recommendations designed to help develop and inform a response to human trafficking which was both strategic and comprehensive.

One year on, the current report looks at how far and how effectively the Scottish Government, law enforcement and prosecution services, victim support organisations, local authorities and the private sector have paid regard to the recommendations and where attention is still needed.

It sets out positive developments, highlighting where there has been progress, but also where further work needs to be done to meet the original recommendations.

Many of the findings of the report are positive. As a result of the original inquiry there has been:

• a Scottish Government-led Summit on human trafficking

• the establishment of an Anti-Trafficking Progress Group (ATPG) to take forward the action points agreed at the Summit

• agreement that a new statutory aggravation be introduced in Scotland to make the perpetrators of human trafficking easier to prosecute

• an increase in the profile of human trafficking not just in Scotland but at a UK level

However, the report also highlights areas where it is felt that action is still needed at local, national and international levels, where there needs to be more concentrated efforts and more partnership working.

The ATPG are already dealing with much of this work and EHRC Scotland feels that they should focus on clear and measurable improvements in the areas of:

• a co-ordinated national approach to awareness raising and training so frontline professionals can recognise what human trafficking looks like and how to respond

• increased cross-agency working and information exchange

• a review of legislation

• comprehensive care and support for victims

However, the report also points out that human trafficking is a complex issue and there needs to be a long term strategic approach beyond the 18 month life of the APTG.


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