Preventing human trafficking and exploitation: evidence review

Executive Summary

Overview

This report is part of a series of evidence reviews which aim to explore current understanding of prevention strategies and interventions in relation to human trafficking and exploitation in the United Kingdom (UK). In additon to this overarching review, there are three shorter papers which cover specific forms of exploitation^[1]. The reviews were undertaken to inform the Scottish Government’s refresh of its Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy. Whilst evidence is lacking on ‘what works’ to prevent human trafficking and exploitation, the available information provides useful insight into the challenges and opportunities for prevention, and highlights the potential merits of a public health preventative approach.

A public health approach addresses prevention across three levels – addressing the root causes of trafficking and preventing exploitation before it occurs (primary prevention), intervening early to mitigate negative impacts (secondary prevention), and treating harms, and preventing re-exploitation (tertiary prevention). Given the lack of robust ‘what works’ evidence, this review covers promising practices and recommendations identified in the literature to inform future efforts in the prevention of human trafficking and exploitation in Scotland. This evidence review draws on (mostly) UK academic and grey literature published from 2017 to early 2024.

Background

The Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act (“the Act”) required Scottish Ministers to produce a Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy which was published in 2017. In line with statutory requirements to review the Strategy every three years, the Scottish Government launched the second statutory review in October 2022. This involved significant engagement with partners and survivors of human trafficking, including Action Areas^[2] 1, 2 & 3 and the Child Trafficking Strategy Group, to review the Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy. Engagement included in-person stakeholder events and an online public consultation survey.

The Strategy Review was published in September 2023 and committed the Scottish Government to undertake a refresh of the Strategy. Several rounds of workshops and additional consultation was carried out ahead of the publication of the new Strategy.

Key findings

• Human trafficking prevention is a relatively new field of research and is generally undeveloped. There is currently no unified definition of what prevention of human trafficking is or means in practice.
• Traditionally there has been a criminal justice response to human trafficking. This has focused on disrupting and prosecuting perpetrators through law and policing, as well as supporting victim/survivors.
• There has been limited focus on human trafficking as a public health concern within policy or the field of public health research. However, there has been recognition of the wide range of negative public health impacts of trafficking at an individual and population level.
• A public health approach offers a collaborative, multi-agency framework for intervention that is ongoing, prevention focused and evidence led. Public health prevention efforts aim to prevent the root causes of human trafficking and address exploitation and harm at all levels of prevention.
• In recent years, a public health approach to preventing human trafficking and exploitation is emerging internationally, and in the UK across academic research and in policymaking.
• Globally, including in the UK, human trafficking interventions have not been systematically or robustly evaluated. This is likely because human trafficking is a highly complex, often hidden crime which presents challenges for research and evaluation. Where interventions have been evaluated, these are not always reported on clearly or transparently, or made publicly available.
• The lack of robust evaluations means concrete evidence and answers to ‘what works’ to prevent human trafficking and exploitation is lacking.
• The majority of evidence tends to focus on tertiary interventions which address the harmful impacts of trafficking and exploitation, e.g. survivor support and recovery interventions.
• There is limited evidence or evaluations of interventions with a primary prevention focus. Awareness raising, education, and training are the most commonly evaluated types of intervention.
• There are several frameworks and policy principles highlighted in the report which could be utilised to inform policy development, and the design and evaluation of interventions. Some of the key recommendations from the literature are summarised below:
  • Coordinated, multi-agency working and prevention strategies should be prioritised. Polices should embed a ‘whole system’ response which addresses primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.
  • Awareness raising, education, and training interventions should be tailored, targeted to specific groups and have a behaviour change focus.
  • Ongoing and consistent training on human trafficking and exploitation for all relevant professional groups, in health, education and criminal justice is needed to support victim identification and appropriate responses.
  • Ensure victim/survivor support is multi-disciplinary, multi-agency, trauma informed, culturally competent, patient centred and available long term to aid victim/survivors’ recovery.
  • Prioritise secure and appropriate accommodation and access to mental health services for victim/survivors.
  • Review and use existing legal provisions effectively to deter, disrupt and prevent perpetrators from committing human trafficking and exploitation.
  • Prioritise meaningful community-based and survivor-led initiatives. Victim/survivor perspectives, including those of children, should influence the design, monitoring and evaluation of interventions that affect them.
  • Ensure that all strategies and interventions are evaluated and monitored effectively to determine what is working, for whom, and what areas need
  • Increase the research and evidence base on the root causes of human trafficking, as well as evidence on ‘what works’.
  • Prioritise research on the effectiveness of prevention activities and policies and ensure interventions demonstrate a clear theory of change.
  • Strategies and interventions addressing trafficking and exploitation of children should be tailored and specific to them.