The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of my Department publishes annual reports setting out in detail the nature and extent of human trafficking in Ireland. To date, annual reports for 2009, 2010 and 2011 have been published and are available from Ireland's dedicated anti-human trafficking website www.blueblindfold.gov.ie and on my Department's website. As the report for 2012 is to be published soon the figures for 2012 are preliminary as are the figures for 2013. The information you are seeking is as follows:
|
YEAR
|
Number of Investigations
|
Number of Convictions
|
|
2010
|
69
|
3
|
|
2011
|
53
|
4
|
|
2012
|
37
|
6
|
|
2013
|
31
|
3
|
NOTE:
1. The figures for 2013 relate to the period from 1 January to 30 September 2013.
2. Convictions are in respect of offences under the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 and in respect of other offences related to human trafficking under other Acts e.g. Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.
3. Convictions occurring in any calendar year may be the result of prosecutions initiated in previous calendar years.
To protect the identity of victims I have set out below the region of origin (as opposed to country of origin) given the very small numbers from some countries.
|
-
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
|
-
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Africa
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Western Africa
|
39
|
40
|
17
|
32
|
|
Southern Africa
|
6
|
5
|
4
|
10
|
|
South East Africa
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Eastern Africa
|
3
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
|
Northern Africa
|
3
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
|
Central Africa
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
|
Europe
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
EU (except Ireland)
|
22
|
16
|
21
|
19
|
|
Ireland
|
8
|
11
|
40
|
3
|
|
Europe (Non-EU)
|
4
|
4
|
6
|
3
|
|
Asia
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Southern Asia
|
6
|
7
|
2
|
-
|
|
Eastern Asia
|
4
|
2
|
-
|
16
|
|
South East Asia
|
3
|
5
|
6
|
3
|
|
America
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
Latin America
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
3
|
|
Unknown
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
I have been informed by An Garda Síochána that persons, mostly from Africa, travelled to Ireland either via hub European airports or alternatively, in a small number of cases, via the UK entering Ireland from Northern Ireland. There are no direct flights from Africa to Ireland.
An Garda Síochána, in its Policing Plan for 2013, has highlighted the prevention and detection of Human Trafficking as one of eight stated priorities. The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit in my Department and An Garda Síochána are continually vigilant for any emerging trends relating to human trafficking and they maintain regular dialogue on this matter with relevant State agencies, NGOs and International organisations working in this area.
