Scandal as slavery gangs dodge justice

Just 6% of charges lead to guilty verdict

- BY STUART MacDONALD

JUST six per cent of human trafficking and modern slavery cases in Scotland have resulted in convictions over the last decade.

Research has found a tiny proportion of criminal charges concerning trafficking and slavery lead to a guilty verdict in court.

Since the introduction of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act in 2015, 653 cases have been reported to prosecutors.

Only 38 have resulted in convictions far lower than the conviction rate for other offences. Of the 112 cases in the last three years, none led to convictions, although 52 are still ongoing.