Police Scotland hosts major anti-human trafficking conference in partnership with the Santa Marta Group

Police Scotland hosted a major summit in Glasgow today (Thursday, 15 June, 2023) to tackle human trafficking involving police, faith and civic leaders.

This is the first occasion a Santa Marta Group conference for the UK and Ireland has taken place in Scotland.

Santa Marta Group is the faith-led, international anti-trafficking charity that brings together law enforcement, civil society and the Church, from across the world, to work together to end modern slavery.

Chief Constable, Sir Iain Livingstone, Police Scotland said:

“Police Scotland is grateful to host the 2023 Santa Marta Group Conference to combat human trafficking.

“We know criminal gangs who buy and sell people into slavery and misery do not recognise borders.

“This major summit brings together key partners - senior clergy, police chiefs and leaders of civic society - from across the world to develop global solutions for a global challenge.

“The decision to bring this key event to Glasgow underlines the international recognition of Police Scotland’s determination to uphold human rights and end human trafficking.

“We work with law enforcement across the world to prevent trafficking and investigate those who deal in trauma and death.

“Listening to victims to understand their experience and developing shared understanding and approaches is essential to that mission.”

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and Papal lead for the Santa Marta Group said:

“Human trafficking is a scourge on society with over 50 million victims across the world. This evil trade in children, women and men should have ended and yet it continues to increase and become more lucrative year on year.

“It will only be through moral leadership and partnerships between police, law enforcement and civil society, working with victims and vulnerable communities that this horrendous crime can be defeated. That is our aim and I thank Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone for his leadership and his long-standing collaboration with the Santa Marta Group as we seek improved ways of working together to end human trafficking and modern slavery.”

Today’s conference took place at the Scottish Crime Campus with delegates including: Justice Secretary Angela Constance, Solicitor General Ruth Charteris KC, Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC),Commissioner Drew Harris, An Garda Síochána (Irish Police), as well as, former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown (UN Special Envoy).

Partner agencies including TARA Scotland (Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance) and, Justice and Care attended along with representatives of the National Crime Agency, Police Service of Northern Ireland, and the Metropolitan Police Service. Former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Theresa May also participated.

In recent years, Police Scotland investigations have resulted in a number of significant arrests and high profile convictions for human trafficking including:

• Four members of a Slovakian Organised Crime Group operating in Scotland convicted in October 2019 of transporting women across international borders for sexual exploitation before being sold into sham marriages. Police Scotland worked other UK forces, Europol, Eurojust and the Slovak Police Force in a joint investigation.
• Four people sentenced in 2022 to a total of 31 years for trafficking and brothel keeping offences.
• Twenty-four people arrested in 2020 during a Police Scotland led, internationally co-ordinated operation targeting an organised crime gang suspected of human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation. This criminal case is ongoing in Romania.

Background

The Santa Marta Group was established in 2014, bringing together leaders who want to work collaboratively to identify solutions to address and end human trafficking and modern slavery. The Santa Marta Group acts as a catalyst to nurture trusting relationships to bring about effective and systemic change.

With the endorsement and encouragement of Pope Francis, the Santa Marta Group works across the world and commits itself to serve those who suffer and focuses its efforts to prevent and eradicate human trafficking. Ending this crime will take strong moral leadership, courage and understanding.

In 2022, 621 victims of trafficking and exploitation were identified in Scotland and referred to the UK wide National Referral mechanism. Of those 405 were adults (18 and over) and 187 were children (17 and under) with the age of the remainder undetermined. Most referrals were for labour exploitation.

Of these 310 reported crimes that occurred outside the UK, 213 were victims of crime in the UK and 98 were victim of human trafficking in the UK and another country.