Human trafficking in Groningen is a bigger problem than city authorities realize: study

There are more victims of human trafficking in the city of Groningen than the authorities know about, according to a study by the Center for Child Trafficking and Human Trafficking (CKM) commissioned by the municipality. Over half of care providers and professionals think they’ve had contact with multiple human trafficking victims in the past two years.

“In any case, there are many more [victims] than the 29 who are officially registered,” said Sjoerd van Bemmel of the CKM to RTV Noord. The city asked the CKM to map out the extent of human trafficking, such as forced prostitution or labor exploitation, so it can use that data to set up policies to fight it.

Human trafficking includes sexual and criminal exploitation. “Pimps are examples of human traffickers,” Van Bemmel told the broadcaster. “They force girls to have sex with others. The money goes to the exploiter: the pimp. But there are also young boys who are manipulated to, for example, take drugs from A to B. The money also goes to the exploiter.”

The CKM raised particular concerns about young people who receive formal guidance and care. More than half of the suspected victims of criminal exploitation live in a care institution or a supervised setting.

Care providers rarely report their suspicions to the authorities. Less than a fifth of Groningen care professionals reported human trafficking suspicions to the police or the Care and Safety House, which coordinates care for human trafficking victims in Groningen.

According to the researchers, care providers do not yet know about this form of criminal activity. The authorities also need to improve information provision on this topic.

“They are unable to recognize it and do not know where to go with their signals. There is a lack of clear reporting routes. In addition, they are afraid that if they report it, they will violate their professional confidentiality.”