Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 53
53
Deferred
Paragraph: 166
Human trafficking victims still prosecuted due to insufficient understanding of statutory defence
Conclusion
Victims of human trafficking are continuing to be prosecuted for criminal acts they were compelled to commit. The evidence suggests that this is mainly due to an insufficient understanding amongst investigators, prosecutors, judges, and defence lawyers of the statutory defence available to such victims, and when or how that defence should be applied.
Government Response Summary
The government's response distinguishes between people smuggling and human trafficking, explaining that human trafficking involves exploitation by force, fraud, or intimidation and includes internal travel, without addressing the concern about victims being prosecuted due to a lack of understanding of statutory defence.
Paragraph Reference:
166
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
54. The Government recognises that people smuggling differs from human trafficking. a view to exploiting them by force, fraud or intimidation. Human trafficking includes travel within a country, not just across international borders.