Support services for victims of trafficking

Trafficking is the

• recruitment,
• transportation,
• transfer,
• harbouring
• or receipt of persons.

By means of:

• the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion,
• abduction,
• fraud,
• deception,
• the abuse of power,
• a position of vulnerability,
• giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.

Exploitation shall include, at a minimum:

• the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation,
• forced labour or services,
  • slavery or practices similar to slavery, 
  • servitude
• or the removal of organs.

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How do people become victims of trafficking?

The definition of human trafficking includes three elements;

• first, that someone is recruited or moved
• second, that the movement or recruitment happened because the victim was forced or tricked into believing they were going to be doing something else. Most victims have been offered something they want or need by a trafficker such as a good job or a loving relationship
• the third element is that the person is exploited

Note: If the victim is a child, it is considered trafficking even if there is no threat or use of force.

What are the different types of exploitation?

Human trafficking includes:

• Sexual exploitation
• Benefit fraud
• Forced labour
• Organ trafficking
• Street crime
• Drug trade
• Forced marriage
• Domestic servitude

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What is the difference between trafficking and smuggling?

Smuggling

• Crime against the state
• Relationship between smuggler and migrant ends after illegal border crossing and migrant has paid fees
• Migrant’s consent to illegal border crossing is gained

 Trafficking

• Crime against the person
• Exploitative relationship between victim and trafficker continues in order to maximise economic gains
• Either no consent gained or initial consent deemed irrelevant due to force or coercion

The main differences between smuggling and trafficking are that migrants usually consent to being smuggled.

Traffickers generate money from the ongoing exploitation of their victims (smugglers only generate money from the movement and illegal entry, there is no further transaction).

Smuggling must involve illegally crossing a border. Trafficking does not have to involve crossing a border as it can also occur within a country (also known as internal trafficking).

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The National Referral Mechanism

The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is a framework for identifying victims of human trafficking and ensuring they receive the appropriate protection and support.

Under the NRM if a professional believes that they have identified a victim of trafficking then they can refer that person to a Competent Authority (CA) to have their case assessed.  If the Competent Authority recognises that a woman is a victim of trafficking she is given rights that include accommodation and support.

Who can Refer?

Referrals can be made to the NRM by ‘First responders’ who should refer possible victims of trafficking to the Competent Authority who are based in UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC).

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The following agencies are first responders:

The first responder will complete a referral form to pass the case to the CA. Referral to a CA is voluntary and can happen only if the potential victim gives their permission by signing the downloadable referral form.

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Support services

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VAWG service directory

You can find lots of other useful services on the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) service directory homepage.