Trafficking for forced Criminal activities and begging in Europe: exploratory study and good practice examples

Trafficking in human beings for the purpose of forced criminal exploitation is an increasingly significant phenomenon in the European Union. Adults and children are trafficked and forced to commit crimes such as cannabis cultivation, ATM theft and benefit fraud or forced to beg. In recognition of its increasing incidence and reports by frontline professionals, EU Directive (2011/36) (hereafter known as the EU Directive) includes a wider definition of trafficking to cover trafficking for forced criminal activities and forced begging. This inclusion highlighted the need for Member States to take action to address this form of trafficking.
Despite the entry into force of the EU Directive there is a dearth of research and awareness about this type of exploitation with very few cases reported in official statistics and many victims misidentified as offenders. This report aims to go some way to address this and provide a baseline assessment of the issue, exploring the situation in the project partner countries (Ireland, the UK, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands) and provide an overview of the rest of Europe. The findings show that the issue is more widespread than previously reported, with victims being exploited through a variety of criminal activities.