The reality of trafficked people’s access to technology

Elliott, Jessica; McCartan, Kieran

Abstract

Human trafficking is a global phenomenon. The UK is predominantly, although not exclusively, a destination country for trafficked persons. There is a lack of empirical research and data available which addresses the reality of access by trafficked persons to certain means of communication (internet, mobile phone technology or a PC); therefore any attempts to use these mediums to assist or identify trafficked individuals are based on speculation rather than empiricism. This research through semi-structured interviews with professionals who work with trafficked people or in related fields (for example, immigration agencies, police, victim support, therapists) (n = 14), identified via snowball and purposive sampling, aims to establish the level of access trafficked persons/putatively trafficked persons have to communication technology. This research identifies a general understanding of trafficked people's access to communication technology; how access to this technology either helps or hinders them escape their current situation; and, consequentially, how technology could assist in responding to trafficking.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2013
• Deposit Date: Aug 19, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 15, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Law
• Print ISSN: 0022-0183
• Electronic ISSN: 1740-5580
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 77
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 255-273
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1350/jcla.2013.77.3.843
• Keywords: trafficking, technology, professional understandings
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/931340
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1350/jcla.2013.77.3.843
• Contract Date: Nov 15, 2016