Trafficking in human beings is an abhorrent crime in which victims are coerced, deceived or forced into the control of those who seek to profit from their suffering. There are serious offences in place in relation to trafficking.
Following a joint consultation with the Home Office on a Draft UK Action Plan to Combat Trafficking In Human Beings last year, the Executive and the Home Office published their Action Plan on Human Trafficking on 23 March 2007.
The Action Plan focuses on four key areas - prevention, enforcement and prosecution, victim support and child trafficking. The plan draws together the work that is currently underway across the UK in relation to human trafficking, tells our stakeholders and members of the public what we are seeking to achieve and identifies the actions we are taking.
Much of this work is already underway. Last year, Scottish Police forces took part in the UK-wide Operation Pentameter against trafficking for sexual exploitation. Since 2004, the Executive has provided funding via the Violence Against Women Fund to a pilot project in Glasgow to provide advice and support to women who have been trafficked into Scotland to be sexually exploited and to collate information in order to enhance intelligence and raise awareness among front-line service providers about trafficking.
The Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 provides that the maximum penalty for involvement in trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation is 14 years imprisonment on conviction on indictment. The Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Act 2004 provides a similar specific offence of involvement in human trafficking for any other purpose. The maximum penalty on conviction on indictment is also 14 years imprisonment.