Victim, not Criminal: Trafficked Children and the Non-punishment Principle in the UK

Victim, not Criminal: Trafficked Children and the Non-punishment Principle in the UK

Victim, not Criminal: Trafficked Children and the Non-punishment Principle in the UK

The briefing assesses the early impact of new “non-punishment” measures in respect of children in the UK, and considers whether they are sufficient to protect trafficked children who find themselves caught up in the criminal justice system. Our research demonstrates that the new provisions have begun to make a difference for children where there has been a proactive approach to identifying children who may have been trafficked by police and prosecutors. Nevertheless, we found serious shortcomings in the implementation of the non-punishment principle in the UK.