Scottish Government releases Third Annual Progress Report on the Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy

 

The Scottish Government has today released the Third Annual Progress Report on the Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy. This is also the first statutory review of the Strategy.

Meanwhile, an extra £1.5m for support services working with victims of human trafficking has been announced by the Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf. You can read the announcement here. 

 

Dame Sara Thornton, Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, said:

“This latest progress report on Scotland’s Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy underlines the significant amount of work taking place to identify and support victims of human trafficking to recovery and to address the conditions that allow this terrible exploitation to take place. 

The additional £1.5 million funding for victims’ services announced today shows there is real commitment to taking immediate action in realising the Strategy. 

I look forward to continuing to work closely with all partners in Scotland to support vital work in protecting victims and survivors of human trafficking and in disrupting this brutal crime.”

 

You can read the latest progress report and strategy review here.

 

ENDS

 

Notes

  • Part 4 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 created the role of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner. The Commissioner has a UK-wide remit to encourage good practice in the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of slavery and human trafficking offences and the identification of victims.
  • The Commissioner is given an annual budget with which to appoint staff and carry out her duties. She is accountable through her strategic plan and annual reports, which the Secretary of State lays before Parliament, setting out the extent to which objectives and priorities are achieved. Her Strategic Plan 2019 – 2021 was launched in October 2019.
  • Dame Sara Thornton was appointed as the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner by the Secretary of State following consultation with the Scottish Ministers and the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland. She took up post at the beginning of May 2019 and her appointment is for three years.
  • The annual progress report and strategy review highlights a range of activities taken forward by the Scottish Government and partners over the last year and reflects on the progress implementing the strategy since its publication in 2017. 

 

Enquires