This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29651780

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Holyrood summit to tackle human trafficking UK human trafficking strategy agreed
(35 minutes later)
A UK-wide summit aimed at tackling human trafficking is being held at the Scottish Parliament. Top prosecutors from across the UK and Ireland have pledged to work together to tackle human trafficking, described by one as "the slavery of our times".
The meeting is being chaired by the Lord Advocate, Frank Mulholland QC, who is Scotland's top prosecutor. The heads of prosecution services in Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland met amid a rise in reported cases.
Those attending include the heads of the prosecution services in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The UK and Scottish governments were also represented at the summit, held at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.
They will set out their commitment to work together across boundaries to disrupt the trade. There was also a focus on identifying the signs of human trafficking.
A report published by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in September found that the number of potential victims of human trafficking in the UK increased by 22% between 2012 and 2013, with 55 cases identified in Scotland. In September the National Crime Agency said the number of potential victims of human trafficking in the UK increased by 22% between 2012 and 2013, with 55 cases identified in Scotland.
Across the UK, it is estimated that 2,744 people, including 602 children, were potential victims of trafficking last year.Across the UK, it is estimated that 2,744 people, including 602 children, were potential victims of trafficking last year.
Almost a third of the victims in Scotland suffered sexual exploitation, while others experienced labour exploitation and criminal exploitation.Almost a third of the victims in Scotland suffered sexual exploitation, while others experienced labour exploitation and criminal exploitation.
The NCA said victims came from countries including Poland, Slovakia, Thailand, Vietnam, Ghana and Nigeria. Romania was the most common country of origin, with nine cases in Scotland. The agency said victims came from countries including Poland, Slovakia, Thailand, Vietnam, Ghana and Nigeria.
Speaking ahead of Friday's summit, Mr Mulholland described human trafficking as "the slavery of our times". Romania was the most common country of origin, with nine cases in Scotland.
'Serious violation' Scotland's senior prosecutor, Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland, who chaired the summit, said: "Human trafficking is the slavery of our times.
He added: "It is a serious violation of human rights and causes lasting harm to its victims. "It is a serious violation of human rights and causes lasting harm to its victims. Every year thousands of men, women and children are trafficked across the globe, including within the United Kingdom.
"Every year thousands of men, women and children are trafficked across the globe, including within the United Kingdom.
"It is a serious and complex crime which happens in the shadows of our society and it is very difficult for investigators and prosecutors to penetrate that veil.""It is a serious and complex crime which happens in the shadows of our society and it is very difficult for investigators and prosecutors to penetrate that veil."
Speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, Mr Mulholland said: "One of the difficulties is that often victims don't recognise that they are indeed victims and there is a bond which is built up between them and the trafficker - an emotional bond, an economic bond.
"That is part of today's conference - to try to understand that."
One victim's storyOne victim's story
"I believed I was going to be safe and have a good life here but when I came this was not the case. I was treated very, very badly."I believed I was going to be safe and have a good life here but when I came this was not the case. I was treated very, very badly.
"I was locked in a room and made to have sex with many men. They would come every day and make me do things I did not want to do."I was locked in a room and made to have sex with many men. They would come every day and make me do things I did not want to do.
"They never cared if I cried. They just carried on."They never cared if I cried. They just carried on.
"The traffickers prostituted me for three months before I managed to run away and I still feel the pain now."The traffickers prostituted me for three months before I managed to run away and I still feel the pain now.
"It is in my heart and in my head.""It is in my heart and in my head."
Baroness Helena Kennedy, who led the Equality and Human Rights Commission's inquiry into Human Trafficking in Scotland, told the programme: "Too often we are left to the vagaries of the system. Mr Mulholland added: "Traffickers do not respect borders or jurisdictions - today we agreed to work together as prosecutors to work across boundaries and rise to the challenges to disrupt this abhorrent trade in human beings and make the United Kingdom hostile to human traffickers."
"Sometimes they [victims] are deported back to places where they will be re-trafficked, where they will suffer punishment for prosecuting the people who have done this to them." Alison Saunders, Director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales, said: "Human trafficking and slavery cases can be truly disturbing and often see victims taken advantage of in the cruellest fashion.
Baroness Kennedy said there were three things that needed to happen - a duty to make sure trafficking was properly understood, mandating the system to prosecute relentlessly and creating a guarantee that victims would be helped to recover. "We welcome the agreement reached at this summit, which will allow the heads of prosecution services across the UK and Ireland to share information about human trafficking and slavery and ensure that across the board we are responding robustly to this horrific type of crime."
Hostile environment Director for Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland Barra McGrory added: "The PPS has already seen some of the real benefits of working collaboratively with all criminal justice agencies, both here and internationally in pursuing prosecutions.
In Scotland, trafficking for the purposes of prostitution carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison. "Today is a significant and important day in formalising our commitment to tackle human trafficking together."
Trafficking for labour and other forms of exploitation, holding someone in slavery or servitude, or requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour are also offences with a maximum penalty of 14 years. Advocate General For Scotland Lord Wallace represented the UK government at the summit, which was also attended by Scotland's solicitor general, Lesley Thomson.
The UK is bound by the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, which involves signing up to a set of minimum standards on the identification, protection and support of trafficking victims Human trafficking, which may be for the purposes of prostitution, labour and other forms of exploitation, carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison in the UK.
In March Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill announced that the Scottish government planned to create a dedicated Human Trafficking Bill for Scotland, which was intended to make Scotland a "hostile environment for human traffickers". Britain is bound by the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, which involves signing up to a set of minimum standards on the identification, protection and support of trafficking victims.
The legislation will build on the work done by Labour MSP Jenny Marra, who had proposed her own bill. Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill announced in March he would be bringing forward legislation to tackle the problem in Scotland.
It will build on the work done by Labour MSP Jenny Marra, who had proposed her own bill on the issue.