The (Dutch) Human TraffickerCharacteristics & Backgrounds

dr. C.R.J.J. (Conny) Rijken & P. (Pien) van de Ven, MScINTERVICTTilburg University (NL)

Introduction

• Research as part of the TRACE project (FP7)

• Data was collected in The Netherlands, Bulgaria, Romania, and to a lesser extent in Cyprus, Poland, and England (160 court files on 233 traffickers, 101 traffickers interviewed, 50 expert interviews)

• Aim of the study is to create offender profile(s) of human traffickers according to their demographic characteristics and social and psychological developments and backgrounds

• Results of the full study and policy briefs can be found here: http://trace-project.eu/documents/

Methods

• Court file study

(160 in total concerning 233 traffickers)

• Interviews and questionnaires

(101 with traffickers, 50 with experts)

• Secondary analysisVan Dijke, A., Terpstra, L., de Ruiter, E. (2014). Mensenhandelaren. Verhalen en vonnissen. Amsterdam: SWP

Results

• 51 files divided over 3 districts in the Netherlands

• 19 interviews and questionnaires

• 17 professionals

• 1 victim

• 1 offender

• 14 portraits

• Mainly cases of sexual exploitation

Results - Demographics

  FilesNumber (N=51)

 Percentage

Secondary analysisNumber (N=14)

 Percentage

Age  12-18  19-25  26-35  36>  Unknown

 01721130

 033.341.125.60

 02651

 014.342.935.77.1

Gender  Male  Female

 483

 94.15.9

 113

 78.621.4

Nationality  Dutch  Second ntnlt  Romanian  Bulgarian  Other

 2710329

 52.919.65.93.917.6

 82013

 57.114.307.121.4

Education  Primary school  Secondary – low  Secondary – mid  Secondary - high  Special education   Vocational training  Unknown

 5104021416

 9.319.67.803.927.531.4

 8101040

 57.17.107.1028.60

EmployedUnemployedUnknown

162213

31.443.125.5

 Unknown

 Unknown

Results - Demographics

FilesNumber (N=51)

 Percentage

Secondary analysisNumber (N=14)

 Percentage

Social welfare?  Yes  No  Unknown

 131622

 25.531.443.1

 Unknown

 

Relationship  Married  Divorced  In relationship  Single  Live together  Unknown

 74128416

13.77.823.515.77.831.4

 505111

 35.7035.77.17.17.1

Children?  Yes  No  Unknown

 19032

 37.3062.7

 1040

 71.428.60

Religious?  Christian  Muslim  Other  Unknown

 76236

 13.711.83.970.6

 7313

 50.064.37.164.3

In debt?  Yes  No  Unknown

 26025

 51049

 Unknown Unknown 

Results – Addiction & Criminal antecedents

Addictions

• Alcohol addiction is no major problem

• One third of the traffickers seems addicted to or uses drugsMainly cannabis

• Drugs trade to earn more money is prevalent

Criminal antecedents

• In two thirds of the cases (files) traffickers had (registered) criminal antecedentsMainly in violence, traffic offences, and property crimes

Results - Social networks and relations

• Social relations seem to be very fewThough busy social life centered around the trafficking

• Relationships with parents in one fifth of the cases disturbed

• Upbringing: boarding school, violent parent(s), divorceExclusion, hurt or abuse

But also:

• Strong family bonds Involved in trafficking

• Instrumental view on womenCulturally influenced?

Results - Cognition & mental health

• In 35% of the cases (files) a mental health issue was registeredNot in all cases diagnosed, but ‘significant traits of’

• Mainly antisocial and narcissist personality disorders

• In addition: denial and lack of empathy

• Average IQ of 84 ranging from 56 to 100However, only in few cases registered

Results - Motives & incentives

• Files: only 1 trafficker admitted his guiltExternalizing behavior

• Main reason: Money (in debt)And status

• Mainly involved via family

• Victim in one fourth of the cases was (ex)partner

Conclusion

• Traffickers for the purpose of sexual exploitation in the Netherlands• 20 – 40 years old

• Dutch or Dutch with a second nationality (Turkish, Moroccan, East-European)

• Often have partner and children

• Low educated

• Criminal antecedents

Conclusion – risk factors

• Instability or insecurity and exclusion on different levels• Mainly on financial level

• Family• Instable and cold relationships (exclusion)

• Or involved in / approves of trafficking

• (Traits of) narcisist and antisocial personality disorders• externalizing, instrumental use of other for own gain, and a lack of empathic skills and feelings of regret

Discussion

Three main categories of traffickers

• Clumsy / naïve / low cognitive skillsOlder men and younger boys with low cognitive skills; used by others for their own gain

• Gradually growing into traffickingHistory in crimes and offences; deviant friends; isolated from family (at young age); lack of conscience; loverboy method

• Born and raised criminalBorn and raised in a criminal environment; family sustains deviant lifestyle; norms and values deviate from the regular

• Common characteristic: exclusion by society

Discussion

• Further research into this typology and the psychological backgrounds and development of offenders is recommended

• Necessary to develop a proper treatment

• Valuable addition to our understanding of the influence traffickers (may) have on victims of human trafficking

• Important to recognize problems in the development of traffickers soonerAnd therefore contribute to prevention

• Qualitative research over quantitative research

Questions?

Conny Rijkenc.r.j.j.rijken@uvt.nlwww.trace-project.eu