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Human trafficking and criminal investigation strategies in the Amsterdam Red Light District

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Abstract

The subject of human trafficking has recently received a lot of attention from society and the world of politics. The criminal-law approach to human trafficking has also been placed high on the agenda of law enforcers. Human trafficking is, however, a complex crime with several specific characteristics. For example, there is often a complex relationship between victims and perpetrators of human trafficking and victims are often too afraid to file a report. How do the police and the judicial authorities work in the investigation of human trafficking in view of the specific characteristics of human trafficking? What choices are made in practice and what different police investigative strategies can be distinguished? What opportunities and risks are inherent in the choices made? In this article we answer these questions on the basis of four large scale police investigations into human trafficking that we studied closely. The four criminal cases all focused on violent groups of human traffickers that operated in the Amsterdam window prostitution. All criminal cases have since been concluded (in first instance). It turned out that in each of the four investigations the relevant police team applied a different investigative strategy: one investigation focused primarily on the victim statements, one investigation focused on public nuisance, one investigation focused on the evidence against the criminal organisation and one investigation focused on the offences (evidence concerning the exploitation of prostitutes). In this article we compare the four strategies applied and consider the consequences of each strategy for the course of the investigation and the criminal prosecution and what dilemma’s are faced in each strategy. Although the various investigations cannot be easily compared and a uniform ‘best’ strategy cannot be designated, the comparison does show that some choices or decisions entail great opportunities or great risks as regards the successful investigation and prosecution of human trafficking. It concerns, for example, the choice of involving local investigative services (district police) or the choice for short-term or, as the case may be, longer-running investigations.

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Notes

  1. For example, the National Crime Squad has made human trafficking a key area for the period 2008–2012, and for some years now the Public Prosecution Service has been investing in reinforcing the fight against human trafficking (KLPD 2008).

  2. The criminal offence of human trafficking has been made punishable by Section 273f of the Dutch Criminal Code. It is, in brief, a criminal offence to recruit, transport, accommodate and to induce to give up money earned by prostitution under duress, by using violence (or threatening to do so), by deception, extortion, fraud or abusing a vulnerable position for the purpose of exploitation.

  3. Quote as we found it in the police files was part of a statement she made by the police.

  4. Due to the specific problems of human trafficking there are more guidelines for the investigation of human trafficking, for example with regard to approaching and informing victims. See, inter alia, the Instruction on Human Trafficking, Government Gazette of 22 March 2006, no. 58, page 15.

  5. In accordance with Yin 1989, see also Wester 1987 and Van Gestel 2006.

  6. This is a fictitious name

  7. These are fictitious names

  8. For more detailed information, see Van Gestel & Verhoeven, 2009.

  9. Further to the community police officers’ story, a book is published in 2005 on exploitation in the Amsterdam Red Light District (‘I will never let you go’) as well as a report in NRC magazine (‘Slave trade in the Red Light District’) by Ruth Hopkins, who is a lawyer and a journalist (Hopkins, 2005a, b).

  10. Both the Public Prosecutor and the defense appeal. The appellate proceedings took place in November 2010. The decision on the case follows. The prime suspect who was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 7.5 years fled the country while on leave.

  11. By means of the so-called ‘accumulated application of Section 27’. Section 27 provides that a person may be regarded as a suspect if there is a reasonable suspicion that an offence has been committed, on the basis of the facts or circumstances. This accumulation includes all these facts and circumstances.

  12. According to the UNODC (2009), ‘trafficking in persons brings a number of risks that are different to general investigations and, in some cases, unique to trafficking cases’ (UNODC 2009: 13). These risks should not only be recognized and planned for, but should form a key aspect of investigators’ strategies in the trafficking in persons investigation. Effective risk assessment increases the chance of a successful investigation and prosecution in trafficking cases (UNODC 2009: 2–3).

  13. In the Netherlands it is a criminal offence to participate in a criminal organisation under Section 140 Criminal Code.

  14. See also footnote 2.

  15. Section 140 of the Dutch Criminal Code reads as follows:

    1. 1.

      Participation in an organization which purpose is to commit crimes, shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding six years or a fine of the fifth category.

    2. 2.

      Participation in the continuation of the activity of an organization that is prohibited by final judicial decision or is legally prohibited or on which a final declaration under Article 5a, first paragraph, is issued, shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding one year or fine of the third category.

    3. 3.

      For the founders, leaders or directors prison sentences may be increased by one third.

    4. 4.

      Participation, as defined in the first paragraph, also includes the provision of financial or other material support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research and Documentation Centre (WODC), Ministry of Justice, PO Box 20301, 2500 EH, The Hague, The Netherlands

    Maite Verhoeven & Barbra van Gestel

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  1. Maite Verhoeven
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  2. Barbra van Gestel
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Correspondence to Maite Verhoeven.

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Verhoeven, M., van Gestel, B. Human trafficking and criminal investigation strategies in the Amsterdam Red Light District. Trends Organ Crim 14, 148–164 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12117-011-9126-0

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