Human Trafficking Costs Outlined by Police Officers

It now seems that the cost of human trafficking to the public in Scotland has been spelled out to politicians by senior police officers. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland said that smuggling people actually makes a lot of money for gangs and opportunistic criminals.

Despite the fact that human trafficking generates a lot of money for gangs, the Association of Chief Police Officers did point out that it costs about £3,000 to support each victim of trafficking. The Holyrood's Equal Opportunities Committee is due to hear evidence from senior police officers and local authorities about the economic impact of trafficking and emigration.

The Association of Chief Police Officers said that the existence of an illicit sex industry in Strathclyde and the rest of Scotland is seen as a market of opportunity. There is evidence that criminal gangs involved in large scale organized prostitution rings traffic women into the UK. These prostitution and escort services generate a vast amount of profit for these criminals, not to mention the harm to the individuals who are exploited and require intense support to reclaim their lives.

Thus, politicians are now calling for government funds to tackle emigration and human trafficking as a way to keep gangs and criminals from having access to this large industry of money. The more money these gangs have, the more powerful they become.

Reports have also claimed that well paid construction workers will increase demand for prostitution in the city. Organized crime groups from Lithuania are also identified as operating in Scotland by trafficking young men to carry out shoplifting. However, trafficking young women, often underage, to take part in prostitution is where most of the gangs make their money.