Human Trafficking

"Human trafficking is one of the most complex and hidden crimes globally, exploiting the most vulnerable in society. As expert witnesses, we provide the necessary insights to uncover the realities of trafficking, ensuring victims receive justice and protection."

– Dr. Grace Robinson

What is Human Trafficking?

  • Human trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of individuals through force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of exploitation.
  • It can include sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude, criminal exploitation and organ trafficking.
  • It is a serious crime and a violation of human rights, often facilitated by individuals, family members or organised crime networks.

Who is Affected by Human Trafficking?

  • Victims can include adults and children, males and females, UK nationals and foreign nationals.
  • Traffickers often exploit vulnerabilities such as poverty, homelessness and insecure immigration status.
  • In 2024, 19,125 potential victims were referred to the National Referral Mechanism(NRM) in the UK (a 13% increase compared to 2023), with the majority being exploited for labour or criminal activities.

Examples of Human Trafficking in the UK

  • The way in which trafficking and exploitation present in victims can vary greatly, however, some signs may include injuries, malnutrition, exhaustion and fearfulness.
  • Where victims include foreign nationals, it is common to see restricted freedom of movement and control over identification documents, as well as a lack of personal belongings.
  • In cases involving British nationals, it is common for victims to be found in areas far away from their homes, as well as being in possession of illicit items such as drugs, money and weapons.

  • Recruitment through deception: victims are lured with false promises of employment, education, or safety - often through personal contacts, online adverts or social media.
  • Transportation and movement: individuals are moved - within or across borders - by car, lorry, boat or plane, though trafficking can also occur entirely within one country.
  • Transfer and harbouring: victims may be handed between exploiters or kept in controlled environments such as private homes, farms, factories or hotels.
  • Control and coercion: exploiters use deception, threats, violence, debt, document confiscation or immigration abuse to maintain dominance and prevent escape.
  • Exploitation for profit: trafficking can lead to forced labour, sexual exploitation, criminal activity, organ removal or domestic servitude.
  • Abuse of vulnerability: poverty, homelessness, drug dependence, learning disabilities or insecure immigration status are deliberately targeted to increase dependency.
  • Debt bondage: victims are told they owe money for travel, sustenance or accommodation, creating ongoing slavery.
  • Isolation: victims are cut off from contact with family, community or authorities, often through language barriers, fear for their family’s safety or fear of deportation.
  • Multiple forms of exploitation: trafficking rarely occurs in isolation; victims may experience overlapping abuse - sexual, labour and criminal exploitation combined.
  • Psychological abuse: traffickers instil fear, loyalty or shame, causing victims to protect exploiters or resist rescue efforts.

  • Be empathetic and compassionate, building trust with victims and adopting a trauma-informed approach.
  • Be there for and remain consistent with the individual; it may take them a while to disclose information to you (sometimes years).
  • Log/map any concerns/observations of exploitation.
  • Work collaboratively with multi-agency teams, including police, social care and voluntary organisations.
  • Refer victims to the NRM to ensure appropriate identification, safeguarding and support.

  • Section 45 provides a statutory defence for individuals who commit criminal offences as a direct result of being trafficked.
  • It recognises that victims may be coerced or forced into crimes such as drug trafficking or theft under threats of violence and debt bondage.
  • Those wishing to rely on a defence of modern slavery must satisfy certain criteria.
  • Our expert reports assess whether trafficking indicators were present at the time of the alleged offence and whether the criteria for modern slavery has been met.

  • We provide impartial, evidence-based analysis of trafficking dynamics in legal cases.
  • We assess the context of trafficking and slavery in the relevant country/countries, recruitment methods, coercion tactics, control mechanisms and victim vulnerabilities.
  • Our insights help legal professionals, judges and juries understand the complexities of human trafficking cases.

  1. Contact us to discuss the specifics of your case.

  2. Agree on the scope of the report and timelines.

  3. Provide case files, including prosecution material, witness statements and NRM documentation.

  4. We conduct a thorough review of case materials, conduct an assessment with your client and provide a detailed expert report that meets all legal standards.

  5. If required, we can attend court hearings to present our findings.

  • Provide clear instructions on the key issues to be addressed in the report.
  • Share all relevant evidence, including police reports, legal arguments, victim statements and NRM documentation.
  • If appropriate and specifically if your client was a child at the time of the offence, seek to instruct a psychologist/psychiatrist. Their findings can be vital for us in highlighting vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation.
  • Allow adequate time for thorough analysis and report preparation.

Founded by Dr Grace Robinson in 2019.

OUR PRIMARY AIM IS TO SUPPORT VICTIMS AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF MODERN SLAVERY.

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