Preventing sexual exploitation research paper information: FOI release

Information requested

On the 23rd of June 2025, Scottish Government published a research paper entitled, 'Preventing sexual exploitation: evidence summary'. I'd like to request the following information;

What external organisations advised or collaborated with Scottish Government on this paper? This may include 3rd sector organisations, campaign groups or individuals.

Please also provide me with any communications with external organisations and the Scottish Government in relation to this paper.

Response

I enclose a copy of of the information you requested in the form of emails between external organisations and the Scottish Government in relation to this paper.

The paper was a desk-based rapid literature review which drew on publicly available academic and grey literature; therefore no external organisation advised or collaborated with the Scottish Government on this paper. The paper was conducted internally by Justice Analytical Services.

The paper was written to inform the development of the revised Scottish Government’s Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy 2025 (which was published on 30 July 2025). The development of the Strategy itself was informed through engagement with stakeholders with interests in this area.

Some points of clarification were sought from external organisations in the drafting of the paper to ensure that the information provided was accurate and up-to-date. I enclose a copy of the communications with external organisations and the Scottish Government in relation to the paper as requested – please find attached.

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to a small amount of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, i.e. names/contact details of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. This exemption is not subject to the ‘public interest test’, so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

Exemptions under Section 38 (personal information) of FOISA contains four exemptions, all relating to personal information. Information is exempt from disclosure if it is: the personal data of the person requesting the information (section 38(1)(a)); the personal data of a third party – but only if other conditions apply (section 38(1)(b)); personal census information (section 38(1)(c)); or a deceased person's health record (section 38(1)(d)).

The exemptions in sections 38(1)(a) and (b) regulate the relationship between FOISA, the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. Processing of personal data must be fair as well as lawful, so fairness needs to be considered separately. Guidance issued by the ICO in relation to the UK GDPR states that fairness means public authorities should only handle personal data in ways that people would reasonably expect and not use it in ways that have unjustified adverse effects on them. Public authorities should therefore take the following into account: Whether the individual expects their role to be subject to public scrutiny. Consideration should be given to the person’s seniority, whether they have a public profile and whether their role requires a significant level of personal judgement and individual responsibility. Whether any distress or damage would be caused to the data subject as a result of the disclosure; Any express refusal by the data subject; Whether the information relates to the data subject’s public or private life. A person’s private life is likely to deserve more protection. Therefore, to protect those individuals from unexpected public scrutiny and potential distress or damage caused by disclosure, it is considered that the exemption, detailed above, is applicable in these circumstances – particularly given this is a sensitive area of policy.

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The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202500476123 - Information released - Annex

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