Child Trafficking in Glasgow: Report of a Social Work Case File Analysis of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children

Abstract

This research is the first phase of work in Glasgow to explore the prevalence of child trafficking in the city and to establish a knowledge base about children who may have been trafficked. A sample group of 75 unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) known to the social work asylum assessment team in 2007 was identified and data gathered via a two stage retrospective case file analysis. To address any immediate practical, ethical and child protection issues a multi-agency steering group guided the research. The sample consisted of 38 females and 37 males, aged between 12 and 17 on their first contact with social work services in Glasgow