Support provisions for victims of human trafficking in Scotland: published guidance
Overview
Human trafficking and exploitation are serious crimes that cause lasting harm. People who experience trafficking may face physical, emotional and psychological trauma. Ensuring that victims receive the right support at the right time is essential to their recovery, and to Scotland’s wider efforts to prevent exploitation.
The Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015 and subsequent Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015 (Support for Victims) Regulations 2018 established the legislative framework for tackling trafficking and exploitation, identifying victims, and supporting them through recovery. This guidance outlines the support available to adult victims of human trafficking and exploitation in Scotland.
The guidance aims to provide clarity and transparency on the principles that underpin support in Scotland, specific roles and responsibilities and information on the support available to adult victims of human trafficking.
This consultation seeks views on whether the draft guidance is clear, practical, and accessible, and if it provides the right level of information to assist practitioners in supporting victims. Your feedback will help ensure that the guidance meets these objectives.
Read the consultation paper. The consultation paper contains full background information for this consultation. You may find it useful to read or refer to while responding.
Consultation questions preview
The consultation questions are included here for your reference. Please click 'Begin consultation' at the bottom of this page to proceed.
1. Does the Guidance clearly set out its purpose and who it applies to? (Section 1 of the guidance)
2. Does the guidance clearly set out the context, including the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015, subsequent regulations and the 2025 Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy, within which it will operate? (Section 2 of the guidance)
3. Does the guidance clearly explain how to identify and refer a potential victim of trafficking or exploitation to the National Referral Mechanism? (Section 4 of the guidance)?
4. Does the guidance set out clearly the key principles informing adult human trafficking victim support in Scotland? (Section 5 of the guidance)
5. Does the guidance set out clearly the accommodation support for adult victims of human trafficking? (Section 6.1 of the guidance)
6. Does the guidance set out clearly the approach to financial support for adult victims of human trafficking? (Section 6.2 of the guidance)
7. Does the guidance set out clearly the rights and information that should, where relevant, be made available to victims of human trafficking? (Section 6.3 of the guidance)?
8. Does the guidance set out clearly the approach to health and wellbeing for adult victims of human trafficking? (Section 6.4 of the guidance)
9. Does the guidance set out clearly the approach to translation and interpretation for adult victims of human trafficking? (Section 6.5 of the guidance)
10. Does the guidance set out clearly the legal assistance that may be available to adult victims of human trafficking? (Section 6.6 of the guidance)
11. Does the guidance set out clearly information on compensation for adult victims of human trafficking? (Section 6.7 of the guidance)
12. Does the guidance set out clearly the transition support available to adult victims of human trafficking? (Section 6.8 of the guidance)
13. Does the guidance set out clearly the outreach support available to adult victims of human trafficking? (Section 6.9 of the guidance)
14. Would additional visual aids (i.e. flow charts or diagrams) be helpful within the guidance?
15. Is the guidance easy to read, navigate, and understand for all audiences?
16. Do you have any other comments or suggestions about the guidance?
Useful information about responding to this consultation
As you complete your response, each page will provide the option to 'Save and come back later' at the bottom. This means you can save your progress and return to the consultation at any time before it closes. If you don't use this feature and leave the consultation midway through, your response will be lost.
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On the 'About You' page at the end of this consultation, organisations will have the opportunity to tell us more about their work and/or how their response was informed.
After the consultation has closed there will be a few months delay before any responses are published. This is because we must check any responses to be published abide by our Terms of Use.
All relevant submitted responses will be analysed. This may be carried out by third party organisations who Scottish Government, its executive agencies or non-ministerial offices, contract to do this work. Such data sharing will be governed by appropriate contractual arrangements to keep your data secure.
An analysis report will usually be published some months after the consultation has closed. This report will summarise the findings based on all responses submitted. It will be published on the Scottish Government website and you may be notified about it if you choose to share your email address with us.
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Why your views matter
Your views are essential to shaping clear, effective and compassionate guidance for supporting adult victims of human trafficking and exploitation in Scotland. The guidance will play an important role in ensuring that people who have experienced severe trauma receive consistent, high‑quality support that promotes recovery, dignity and safety. By responding to this consultation, you will help us test whether the draft guidance is practical, accessible and aligned with the needs of both victims and the practitioners who support them.
We want to build a shared understanding of what effective support looks like - one that reflects the diverse expertise of frontline services, statutory partners, advocacy organisations, and people with lived experience. Your feedback will inform the final version of the guidance, helping to ensure that it is as robust, workable and victim‑centred as possible. Taking part means contributing to Scotland’s wider efforts to prevent exploitation and protect those who are most vulnerable.
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