Publication - Strategy/plan

Scotland's Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy Delivery Plan 2026-2028

Published: 14 August 2026
From: Minister for Victims and Community Safety, +3 more … Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, Director for Children and Families, Director of Justice
Directorate: Justice Directorate, +1 more … Children and Families Directorate
Topic: Business, industry and innovation, Children and families, Communities and third sector, +10 more … Education, Equality and rights, Health and social care, Housing, International, Law and order, Marine and fisheries, Public safety and emergencies, Transport, Work and skills
ISBN: 9781807753955

Scotland's Trafficking and Exploitation Delivery Plan contains the key actions that will help us to meet the four long-term outcomes set out in Scotland's Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy 2025.

Supporting documents

Outcome 2

Perpetrators are identified, their activities are disrupted, and they are prosecuted. Taking robust and swift action against all perpetrators, be they individuals, businesses or organised crime groups, is essential in order to protect children, adults and communities against the harm caused by trafficking and exploitation.

	Actions	Principles	Leads	Timeframe
2.1	We will continue to support victims to engage in the justice process, ensuring they are aware of their rights and able to access all appropriate protections.	Human-rights based; Trauma-informed and culturally competent; Multi-agency approach; Based on partnership working at local, Scottish, UK and international levels	Scottish Government Police Scotland Human trafficking victim support organisations Third sector	Short (and continuous actions)
2.2	We will continue to use the offences in the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015 to disrupt trafficking and exploitation and bring perpetrators to justice.	Multi-agency approach; Based on partnership working at local, Scottish, UK and international levels	Police Scotland COPFS	Short (and continuous actions)
2.3	We will continue to engage with law enforcement agencies within and outwith Scotland to disrupt and prevent offending.	Multi-agency approach; Based on partnership working at local, Scottish, UK and international levels	Police Scotland COPFS	Short (and continuous actions)
2.4	We will raise awareness of human trafficking indicators and the Lord Advocate’s Instructions for non-prosecution of victims of human trafficking within the justice sector and other key areas to reduce the risk of criminalisation of both child and adult victims of trafficking and exploitation.	Multi-agency approach;	COPFS Scottish Government Human trafficking victim support organisations COSLA SCRA Law Society of Scotland	Short (and continuous actions)
2.5	We will implement new measures in the Crime and Policing Act. We will assess what guidance and awareness raising materials may be needed for law enforcement partners and others to support implementation. We will monitor the use of these measures, once brought into force, to understand the scale of these exploitative practices in Scotland and the efficacy of the offences and orders at disrupting it.	Gender sensitive; Age sensitive	Scottish Government Police Scotland COPFS Social Work Scotland	Short
2.6	Section 38 (Duty to Notify) of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015 will come into force on 1 February 2027, and we will support implementation across named public bodies.	Multi-agency approach;	Scottish Government NHS Scotland Police Scotland COSLA	Short (and continuous actions)
2.7	We will strengthen knowledge of TEPO and TERO across the human trafficking support organisations and wider sector.	Multi-agency approach	Police Scotland COPFS	Medium
2.8	We will work across the anti-trafficking sector to review and, if necessary, seek improvements in the flow of information between the justice sector, social work, health and specialist support agencies to improve the quality and consistency of the safeguarding response for victims and strengthen efforts to disrupt perpetrators.	Human-rights based; Age-sensitive; Multi-agency approach	Police Scotland COPFS Scottish Government Human trafficking victim support organisations Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship Service SCRA Local authorities Social Work Scotland	Medium (and continuous actions)

Contact

Email: human.trafficking@gov.scot

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Outcome 2

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