Women continue to be exploited by trafficking gangs despite Covid-19 restrictions

Nine of the 84 victims entered onto the UK National Referral Mechanism (NRM) were under 18 years old, with the youngest aged 13 and the oldest aged 56.

Police Scotland said women were being trafficked from within the UK and from across the world, from countries including Romania, Vietnam, China and a number of African nations, and it believes the number of victims is “under-estimated”.

Detective Chief Superintendent Sam McCluskey, head of public protection at Police Scotland, said: “Despite Covid-19 health risks and the global travel restrictions, traffickers are still plying their despicable trade in human beings.

“We believe the number of women, and girls, identified as being trafficked and sexually exploited is under-estimated. We know there are many more victims.

“Not all victims see themselves as victims. They may have made a choice to come to Scotland on a promise of a better life, fallen into the hands of traffickers and then found themselves victims of horrific deception and exploitation.

“Sexual exploitation is highly lucrative for criminal gangs. They can potentially make millions forcing people into prostitution or into sham marriages”

She added: “Many of those being sexually exploited are advertised on websites including adult services websites.

“People who pay for sex need to think about what they are doing. They may be responsible for the continued sexual exploitation of a woman and for directly funding organised crime.

“Landlords need to consider who is renting their property and how that property is being used.”

Det Chief Supt McCluskey said local communities often provide “key information to identifying potential victims and through them the traffickers” and it was up to everyone to spot the signs to help those being exploited.

Last year (2019), saw an exponential increase in potential victims of trafficking, particularly from Vietnam, being identified and recorded on the NRM. Around 104 female victims of trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation were identified.

Police Scotland said trafficking had reduced in 2020 but the proportion of those trafficked to be sexually exploited has increased slightly.

Bronagh Andrew, Operations Manager for the Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance (TARA), said: “Commercial sexual exploitation including prostitution and trafficking are all forms of male violence against women. Traffickers, and others, profit from this abuse of women – women being sold on, only to exist in poverty, fear, poor health, trauma and isolation. This objectification and commodification of women’s bodies for financial gain is not only a consequence but a cause of female inequality.

“Covid-19 has not stopped the demand from men for sex. The only thing that will is by taking robust action against those who choose to pay for sex and those who profit from the harm while we all continue to strive for gender equality.

“Throughout the pandemic, TARA and Routes Out have continued to offer safe accommodation, financial support, health services, legal advice, advocacy and emotional support to those women who need it, while they recover and heal from their experiences.

“We continue to work closely with our partners in Police Scotland to meet the needs of this diverse group of women and help them feel believed, safe and protected.”

Recent investigations document hundreds of thousands of pounds moving between bank accounts.

In 2019, four people were jailed for a total of more than 36 years for the trafficking and exploitation of ten victims for sexual exploitation and sham marriages in Scotland. One victim was sold in a busy city centre street in Glasgow for around £10,000.

Several major sexual exploitation focused operations have taken place in Scotland this year. Three in Glasgow resulted in 13 arrests and the recovery of 25 victims. A Police Scotland-led joint operation with Romanian police resulted in 24 arrests, ten in the UK and the remainder in Romania.