Human trafficking data: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Information requested
Data of recordings in Scotland area regarding human trafficking:
1. Trafficking cases by region (as I want to make a heat map with trafficking cases by region).
2. Recorded cases of raids on houses with detained victims.
3. Nationality of victims, age group, gender (for victim demographics pie charts).
4. Any prosecutions and proceedings - based on location court would be perfect (I want to make a bar chart 'convictions vs. arrests').
5. Types of exploitation.
6. Information about perpetrators, were they arrested, convicted (?)
Response
1. It is unclear you specifically mean by "trafficking cases". Points 4 and 5 outline what the Scottish Government’s criminal proceedings dataset includes regarding human trafficking-related proceedings and convictions.
2. The Scottish Government does not hold the information on the number of raids on houses. You may wish to contact Police Scotland at foi@scotland.police.uk, as they may be able to assist.
3. The Scottish Government does not hold information on victims - the Criminal Proceedings database does not hold victim data unless specified by legislation.
4-5. Attached is an MS Excel file containing data on the number of people proceeded against and convicted for human trafficking-related offences (where main crime), by charge and Local Authority (based on court location), 2013-14 to 2022-23.
6. The Scottish Government does not hold information on arrests. You may wish to contact Police Scotland at foi@scotland.police.uk who might be able to answer this question. The number of people convicted is provided in point 5.
This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested.
About FOI
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Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Correspondence Unit
Email: contactus@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG