Sex trafficking and the role of state police within Australia
| Published date | 08 June 2015 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-10-2014-0004 |
| Pages | 65-75 |
| Date | 08 June 2015 |
| Author | Angeleke Elfes,Philip Birch |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology |
Sex trafficking and the role of state police
within Australia
Angeleke Elfes and Philip Birch
Angeleke Elfes isJuris Doctoral
Candidate at the School of Law
and the Universityof New South
Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Dr Philip Birch is Lecturer –
Policing, Criminal and
Community Justice at the
School of Social Sciences
and Psychology, University of
Western Sydney, Sydney,
Australia.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to examine operational policing practice with reference to reducing
sex trafficking.
Design/methodology/approach –This is a qualitative study in which in-depth structured interviews were
conducted with state police officers in one state of Australia.
Findings –The paper reveals that state police officers have a good understanding of sex trafficking and are
involved in reactive policing methods in order to reduce this crime type. The data set yields a limitation in
proactive policing methods for reducing sex trafficking, primarily due to human and financial resources and
the composition of state and federal laws and policing practices in Australia. Those interviewed also noted
how sex trafficking can disguise itself as legitimate sex work.
Research limitations/implications –The effectiveness in operational practice at the local, national and
international level in reducing sex trafficking can be enhanced through a more co-ordinated response to the
problem. Recognition of better communication strategies and partnership working can support a reduction in
sex trafficking as well as allowing those who are trafficked the status of “victim”.
Practical implications –To ensure those who are trafficked for sexual servitude are viewed and treated as
victims within the law. To review how state police forces in Australia are resourced in order to proactively
address sex trafficking. To ensure state police forces can engage in more proactive policing initiatives in order
to prevent sex trafficking. Reflect on examples of good practice between federal and state police forces in
Australia to implement a co-ordinated approach for combatting sex trafficking.
Originality/value –This is one of just a few studies examining organised crime from the perspective of law
enforcement personnel within Australia.
Keywords Crime reduction, Victims, Organized crime, Partnership working, Reactive policing,Sex trafficking
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Organised crime is a global phenomenon that requires a range of responses, including
responses from law enforcement agencies. However, defining the concept of organised crime is
difficult (Levi and Maguire, 2004) as it involves a range of activities and people, with the most
common form being the “supply of illegal goods and services”(Levi and Maguire, 2004), which
include crimes such as sex trafficking. Nevertheless, the United Nation (UN) offers the following
interpretation of organised crime:
Organized crime threatens peace and human security, violates human rights and undermines
economic, social, cultural, political and civil development of societies around the world. Transnational
organized crime manifests in many forms, including as trafficking in drugs, firearms and even persons.
At the same time, organized crime groups exploit humanmobility to smuggle migrants and undermine
financial systems (www.unodc.org/unodc/en/organized-crime/index.html).
Furthermore, the “United National Convention against Transnational Organised Crime”United
Nations Resolution Adopted by the General Assembly (2001) outlines that an “organised criminal
Received 20 October 2014
Revised 19 January 2015
Accepted 29 January 2015
DOI 10.1108/JCRPP-10-2014-0004 VOL. 1 NO. 2 2015, pp. 65-75, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-3841
j
JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE
j
PAG E 65
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