In the Dock

NGOs and health experts also suggest that persons trafficked for labour can also experiencesymptoms indicative of PTSD. 66It is also important to note that practitioners, including the police, may develop vicarious or secondarytraumatisation which can result from engaging with traumatised victims and hearing their traumaticexperiences. This can result in detachment, disbelieving accounts and avoiding exploration ofinformation. 67 Therefore it is equally important that practitioners are provided with regular checks.Exposure to prolonged and repeated traumatic episodes may deeply impact upon the traffickedperson’s emotions, consciousness, self-perception, ability to make decisions and sexual behaviour.This was coined Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (CPTSD), which can occur when aperson is held in captivity and is under the control of their exploiter. In this context captivity is given awide interpretation where the barriers preventing escape can be psychological rather than physical. 68CPTSD can change the victims’ perception of the perpetrator. This may result in the trafficked personemotionally identifying with their captor and forming a bond of attachment to them.The conditions of Stockholm Syndrome and Traumatic Bonding may also explain why some traffickedpersons do not accept assistance, appear as if they are not dissatisfied with the exploitative situation,or even return to their trafficker after their release. Traumatic Bonding theory is mostly used todescribe why people who suffer domestic violence remain with their abusive partners. Some empiricalresearch confirms however that Traumatic Bonding may be equally applicable to trafficking as thereare many parallels with domestic abuse in terms of control mechanisms employed by the exploiter.ConclusionFor the first time in 2012, the Government published data revealing that trafficking for all forms offorced labour exceeds the number for trafficking for sexual exploitation in the UK, and an increase inthe number of identified trafficked men. Moreover, in 2012, the highest number of potential traffickedpersons has been referred to the NRM since it began recording trafficking data in 2009.Traffickers are constantly exploring new areas and industries where they can generate profit from theexploitation of others. Hence, understanding how the trafficking “enterprise” works and the impact ofthe crime on its victims is essential. Trafficked persons are subject to sophisticated methods of controlused by their traffickers to subjugate them into complying with their demands. The mechanisms ofcontrol applied by the traffickers on their victims often leave long-lasting psychological and physicalimpacts. These make it more difficult for law enforcement and other CJS actors to identify and assist.The report will discuss throughout the importance of developing a CJS response that takes intoaccount the changes in traffickers’ methods, the complexities of the crime and its impact on thevictims’ ability to participate in criminal proceedings.66Oram (1) supra note 58.67Lerias, D. & Byrne, M., ‘Vicarious traumatization: symptoms and predictors’ Stress and Health Vol. 19:3 (2003), pp.129–138; andElwood, et al., ‘Secondary trauma symptoms in clinicians: A critical review of the construct, specificity, and implications for traumafocusedtreatment’ Clinical Psychology Review Vol. 31 (2011), pp.25–36.68Herman, supra note 40.26