In the Dock

Chapter 3: Statistics on trafficking offencesThis chapter examines prosecution and conviction statistics under trafficking and forced labouroffences and discusses the use of other offences to prosecute traffickers. It will look at the two datasets used by the Government to track trafficking cases through the courts.Trafficking prosecutions and other offences in numbersStatistics currently collated on the CJS’s response to trafficking are confusing and potentiallymisleading, as two departments gather different statistics on trafficking prosecutions and convictions:a) the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) collects data on convictions and prosecution of trafficking where thetrafficking offence charged is the principal offence 130 on the indictment; and b) the Crown ProsecutionService (CPS) collects data from their case management system where cases with a traffickingoffence charged are flagged even if other offences are later convicted. It is currently very difficult todocument, on the basis of this data, the ability of the CJS to prosecute traffickers in an appropriateand effective way.MoJ DataProsecution and conviction rates for trafficking for sexual exploitation over the past five years can befound in the table below. 131 The prosecution statistics are presented in the Government’s InternalReview of Human Trafficking Legislation 132 and the First annual report of the Inter-DepartmentalMinisterial Group on Human Trafficking. 133 Note that 2007 - 2008 are years before the Conventionwas implemented and the NRM introduced in the UK.YearProsecutions fortrafficking for sexualexploitationConvictions for trafficking forsexual exploitationSuccess rate in percentages2007 87 15 134 17%2008 114 24 135 21%2009 102 23 22%2010 96 10 10%2011 113 8 7%It is important to note that the trafficking prosecutions column refers to when the defendant firstappeared in front of a magistrate to determine bail and mode of trial. Convictions are recorded whenthe jury return their verdict at court. Therefore conviction statistics appear with a delay, as it may be ayear or more between the arrest/charge and final prosecution. Also, the trafficking case may involveone or more defendants.The above table indicates that, under MoJ statistics, the annual number of prosecutions under theSOA’s trafficking offences remains stable, close to the mean number of 102, despite majordevelopments in the past five years including: specially funded nationwide law enforcementoperations on trafficking (see Chapter 5); the establishment of the UKHTC (see Chapter 6) in 2006and its move into Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) in 2010, the establishment of specialisedAnti-Trafficking Unit in the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in 2007 and its merger into theTrafficking and Prostitution Unit (SCO9); the entry into force of the Convention and the introduction ofthe NRM in 2009, with a steady rise in the numbers of people recognised as trafficked persons. More130The principal offence in this context means that the trafficking offence has the heaviest potential sentence (14 years) out of theoffences charge on the indictment.131Pre-2009 conviction statistics are taken from Freedom of Information Request and Parliamentary Questions in Hansard132Internal review, supra note 127.133Ibid.134Crispin Blunt, HC Deb, 28 February 2011, c8W.135Ibid.38