The Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking has published its first report. The executive summary is reproduced below and you can read the full report here.
According to the Guardian, the report found that the number of people being trafficked into the UK is rising.
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First annual report of the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking
October 2012
Cm 8421
© Crown copyright 2012
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Chapter 1: Executive Summary
Introduction
1.1 This report sets out an assessment of human trafficking in the UK by the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking (IDMG), recognising that human trafficking is an international crime that touches people and communities all over the world. The IDMG comprises representatives from the UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Welsh Government. All IDMG members have agreed the content of this report.
Context
1.2 Fuelled primarily by those who seek to make a profit from the misery of others, human trafficking is the vilest of crimes and equates to modern day slavery. Men, women and children from across the world are exploited and forced into performing services or other work against their will. In some instances the exploitation can be experienced over a prolonged period of time. Those who are exploited may face years of sexual abuse, forced labour, or domestic servitude and, in many instances never fully recover from their traumatic experience.
1.3 A range of socio-economic factors (including poverty, poor education, and poor employment opportunities) mean that some individuals are more susceptible and vulnerable to exploitation. The ease of international travel allows more and more people to move and settle elsewhere: from villages and towns to cities; from one city or region to another; or across international boundaries; either through necessity or for want of a better life. This increased mobility can be positive both economically and socially but it can also open up greater opportunities for vulnerable people to be exploited.
1.4 Human trafficking is a global phenomenon and the nature of the crime is such that no one country or agency acting on its own can tackle it effectively. The key to eradicating trafficking is partnership working – at a local, national and international level. The desire of organised criminals to make a profit means that they are constantly changing and evolving their modus operandi to maximise the exploitation of others and to evade law enforcement. The UK must remain alive to this and adapt its response accordingly. The International Labour Organization (ILO)1 estimates that the profits of traffickers world wide are in excess of 32 billion US$ each year. Anti-trafficking actions must therefore seek to recover victims, reduce the profits of traffickers, and increase their risk of capture, prosecution and conviction.
Assessment of human trafficking victims
1.5 In 2011, 946 potential victims of human trafficking were referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). Of these, 634 were females and 312 were males, 712 were adults and 234 were children. The majority of potential child victims were reported to be in the 16–17 year old age category. The most prevalent source countries for potential victims who were referred into the NRM were Nigeria, China, Vietnam, Romania and Slovakia. The most prevalent exploitation type recorded through the NRM, for adults, was sexual exploitation however it is recognised that the incidence of labour exploitation and criminal exploitation is increasing. The most prevalent type of exploitation reported for children was labour exploitation. The recently published UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) Baseline Assessment suggests that there could be over 2,000 potential victims of human trafficking in the UK, based on information collected from a variety of other sources. The Baseline Assessment provides an alternative picture of the scale of human trafficking in the UK.
Trafficker profiles
1.6 Because of the covert nature of human trafficking, the crime is difficult to detect. Organised criminals are involved in the exploitation of people for profit with the largest number of Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) reported to be from Romania. The UK uses a range of intelligence tools to understand the threat of human trafficking and deploys a range of tactics to deter and disrupt trafficking activity. Understanding the recruitment methods used by traffickers is important in mitigating the risk to individuals, and closing down identified trafficking routes and practices. Risk profiles are also used by Border Force to help facilitate the identification of more potential trafficking victims and assist in carefully targeted operational activities against trafficking.
Prosecutions and convictions in the UK
1.7 The UK is committed to improving and strengthening its approach to prosecuting and convicting traffickers and believes it has effective legislation to tackle human trafficking. Although the UK figures on human trafficking prosecution and conviction rates are relatively low, they do not provide the full picture. Traffickers are often prosecuted for one of a number of possible offences which may carry similar or more serious penalties than human trafficking charges. For example, the number of convictions on a principal offence basis in England and Wales for 2011 was 8, however, there were 142 defendants charged with offences related to human trafficking in 2011/12 of which two thirds were prosecuted. In addition law enforcement and prosecution agencies work with their counterparts internationally to help deter and disrupt activity, as well as support prosecutions and convictions of offenders in other jurisdictions. A range of other intervention and disruption strategies are also effectively deployed.
The UK's response
1.8 The UK Government published its Human Trafficking Strategy in 2011 which aims to take a comprehensive approach by focusing on preventing trafficking activity and maintaining effective care for victims. Actions have been taken forward to improve the awareness of front-line professionals so that they can better identify, support and protect victims. Effective adult care arrangements for human trafficking victims are in place across the UK. Increased international engagement is helping the UK to gain a better understanding of the human trafficking landscape, to raise awareness, and to assist in strengthening law enforcement and justice systems in priority source countries. Concentrated efforts have been made by a range of agencies to work together to share information and maximise capabilities to provide an effective response at the border. Law enforcement agencies across the UK also work collaboratively and with their counterparts in other countries to share intelligence and collectively target traffickers. Raising public awareness of human trafficking, working in partnership with NGOs, and tackling the demand for cheap services and goods are also key aspects of the UK's strategy.
Child victims
1.9 The UK recognises the particular vulnerabilities of child trafficking victims and the need to ensure effective care arrangements are in place to support them. In addition, the UK recognises the inherent links between child sexual exploitation and child trafficking and is seeking to strengthen its response in both regards to protect children from those who may seek to exploit or abuse them. This includes a range of guidance and support tools for front-line professionals to help tackle these issues, including an action plan in England to tackle child sexual exploitation. The UK is also working to prevent and mitigate the potential risk of child victims going missing from care and seeks to build on and share effective practice in tackling this issue throughout the UK. Raising awareness of child trafficking in the UK and overseas is also a key aspect of the UK's prevention activities.
Trends and emerging threats
1.10 Sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, and domestic servitude are the three most recognised types of exploitation. However, the recent UKHTC baseline assessment suggests that there could be significantly more individuals who are potential victims of criminal exploitation than NRM data alone suggests, particularly the number of children forced into criminality such as street begging. The numbers of victims referred to the NRM are increasing and are likely to continue to do so as awareness among front-line professionals increases. Law enforcement agencies continue to utilise a range of intelligence and data sources to identify potential threats and emerging trends and to tailor their response accordingly. The UK recognises that it must remain alive to the threat of trafficking and is using a range of tactics and intelligence sources to assess trends and identify emerging threats.
International and European law and the UK's legislative framework
1.11 The UK has ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. The UK has also opted into the EU Directive on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims and is currently working on full compliance by April 2013. New legislation applicable in England and Wales has been introduced under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 to comply with the Directive by extending extraterritorial jurisdiction and widening one existing offence of labour trafficking. Corresponding provision is being made to legislation in Northern Ireland and Scotland has already made legislative provision in the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010. The recent legislative review also concluded that current UK legislation supports the effective prosecution of traffickers although Scotland is considering introducing a statutory human trafficking criminal aggravation to aid prosecution.
Improving our response
1.12 The UK recognises the importance of external challenge to test and improve its response to human trafficking. This chapter provides a response to the recommendations highlighted in various antitrafficking reports and highlights key work being taken forward to improve the UK's approach. Several consistent themes are highlighted regarding the UK's response to tackling trafficking including the lack of a strategic and coordinated response, as well as the need for a coherent prevention strategy. In response, the UK has strengthened governance arrangements to support better coordination of human trafficking work in the UK. The UK is also taking work forward with a range of other government departments to strengthen prevention activities by working with a range of key stakeholders, in the UK and overseas.
Conclusion
1.13 Tackling human trafficking in all its forms is vital and the UK is committed to continually shaping and tailoring its response to mitigate the threat. Although the UK has already achieved significant progress in the fight against trafficking, it recognises that any response must be able to quickly adapt and evolve to keep pace with the traffickers. Three key areas have been identified where further concerted effort is needed to improve and strengthen the UK's approach: data capture and intelligence sharing, training and awareness raising for front-line professionals, and coordinating prevention activities. The UK is not complacent about the efforts required to stop people from being trafficked for exploitation or punishing the perpetrators and will continue to work collaboratively with stakeholders and key agencies as well as supporting source countries in tackling the issues that fuel the demand for human trafficking.