Kennedy probes Scottish sex trade

The investigation, led by Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, will focus on the sex trade and report on whether the Scottish government is meeting its international and domestic obligations to protect victims.

Scotland is thought to have a proportionately larger problem with human trafficking than other parts of Britain, but there have been no prosecutions - compared with around 100 south of the border.

In 2008, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland estimated that Scotland had 13.5 per cent of Britain's trade in human beings, despite having less than 10 per cent of the population.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Scotland inquiry will take oral and written evidence from victims, experts and the police to identify the extent of what has been branded modern-day slavery.

Launching the inquiry, Baroness Kennedy said: "This is about making a reality of people's human rights. We will consider whether recommendations on prevention, prohibition, prosecution and protection are necessary and ensure human rights are at the centre of Scotland's anti-trafficking policy and practice."

EHRC Scotland commissioner Morag Alexander added: "There is a suspicion that Scotland has a disproportionate share of the human trafficking trade and some have expressed concern that there have been no convictions for trafficking offences.

"This inquiry will examine whether these concerns are well founded."

Detective Chief Superintendent Stephen Whitelock said that police found concrete facts about trafficking difficult to establish because of the subterranean nature of the crime and victims' fear of coming forward.

Mr Whitelock, who leads the Scottish Intelligence and Co-ordination Unit, noted: "It's very difficult to progress a case where you have got an unco-operative victim.

"Much of that is about denying being a victim because they are fearful of being sent back, they are fearful of reprisals by organised crime and they have a limited understanding of Scottish policing."

Amnesty International Scottish programme director John Watson welcomed the launch of the inquiry as "a real opportunity to shed some light on this problem and to take a step towards the relief of its victims."

The EHRC is expected to publish its findings by summer 2011.