West Lothian is a human trafficking spot
Livingston and Bathgate pinpointed
West Lothian has been identified as a location for human trafficking in a shocking new campaign which pinpoints areas in which victims have been found.
Both Livingston and Bathgate have been highlighted as areas where victims of human trafficking have been found in the last five years.
Information collected by a number of agencies including Police Scotland, TARA (Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance) and Migrant Help shows that West Lothian is one of 27 local authorities in Scotland where victims have been found in the five year period.
Latest figures also show there were 150 potential victims of trafficking identified in Scotland in 2016 – a 52 per cent increase since 2013.
Detective Superintendent Stuart Houston, who heads up Police Scotland’s National Human Trafficking Unit, said:“Tackling human trafficking is a priority for Police Scotland.
“We will target those who control, abuse and exploit others by working collaboratively with partners to ensure that Scotland is a hostile environment to this sickening trade.”
Cabinet Secretary for Justice Michael Matheson said: “Human trafficking is an appalling abuse of human rights. This horrific crime affects the most vulnerable in society and has wide reaching consequences for its victims.
“Generating awareness that the exploitation of adults and children is happening in Scotland today is key to bringing it to an end.”
The Scottish Government has backed the campaign to raise awareness into the issue and help tackle the problem.
Angela Constance, SNP MSP for Almond Valley, said: “‘It is appalling that human trafficking is taking place in Scotland and that there is evidence that this is happening in West Lothian.
“The Scottish Government’s strategy on human trafficking and exploitation, with new tougher laws to deal with it, will help to raise awareness, identify perpetrators and disrupt their activity.
“A public awareness campaign will ensure people not only know about the misery and harm that trafficking causes, but also that help is available if people have suspicions it is taking place.”
Neil Findlay, Labour MSP for Lothian, said: “Sadly this revelation comes as no surprise to me. Human trafficking is a reality in many of our communities and is happening under our noses.
“The misery and exploitation of our fellow human beings is a modern day scandal and is a worldwide phenomenon.
“We need communities to work with the police and authorities to stamp out this heinous crime.”
Damian Timson, leader of the Conservative party in West Lothian, said that the findings showed that human trafficking isn’t a problem restricted to big cities.
He said: “These worrying findings reveal a problem that for too long has been disregarded.”
“Both the UK and Scottish governments have vowed to do more to tackle this horrendous trade, and that’s a co-operation that needs to happen if we’re to be successful in doing that.”