Professionals are often the first to suspect that something is wrong. They must have thorough knowledge of the indicators of human trafficking in order to respond to the various signs and signals. They must also know when to contact the police and the Danish Centre against Human Trafficking.
When authorities or NGOs suspect that a person may be a victim of human trafficking, assistance and support must be initiated as quickly as possible, e.g. accommodation or access to healthcare. The individual must be informed about their options and rights so they can make decisions about their next steps.
The Danish Centre against Human Trafficking continuously works to raise awareness of human trafficking through presentations, trainings, annual conferences, media engagement and dissemination of the relevant data and statistics.
Learn more about human trafficking for forced labour and guidelines for businesses here.
Indicators of human trafficking
Indicators and signs of human trafficking may include manipulation, threats or violence. A person may also be working without receiving wages, working under poor conditions or carrying debt while being under constant surveillance. Other indicators include physical injuries that have not been treated, visible nervousness, fear of authorities and a lack of knowledge about the assistance they are entitled to.
Cooperation on detection and prevention
Effective cooperation and coordination between responsible actors is crucial for identifying human trafficking, providing support and sharing knowledge.
Based on the national action plan to combat human trafficking, several collaborative forums have been established in Denmark to ensure coherence in the national response.
An interministerial working group on combatting human trafficking is responsible for the overall coordination and implementation of the action plan. The group includes representatives from The Department of Gender Equality under the Danish Ministry of Environment and Gender Equality (which chairs the group), the Ministry of Immigration and Integration, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Employment, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing, the Ministry of Taxation, the Ministry of the Interior and Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Cooperation between authorities
The Danish Centre against Human Trafficking leads a group of authorities (also referred to as the intergovernmental task force) consisting of the Prosecution Service, the Danish Working Environment Authority, the Agency of Family Law, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration’s travelling inspection unit, the Danish Financial Investigation Unit (FIU), the Danish Tax Agency, the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration, the coordinating police unit based within South Jutland Police District and the Danish Immigration Service. The group has entered into a cooperation agreement to ensure knowledge‑sharing and timely action when there is suspicion of human trafficking. The group also meets ad hoc for operational meetings on specific cases. Once a year, NGOs receiving funding under the action plan participate in the group’s meetings.
The coordinating police unit in the South Jutland Police District and the Danish Centre against Human Trafficking jointly hold annual meetings for key personnel from all police districts in Denmark. In Copenhagen, a cooperation group has been established with participation from the immigration control unit of the Copenhagen Police, the Danish Immigration Service and the Danish Centre against Human Trafficking to support knowledge‑sharing across the authorities.
The Danish Centre against Human Trafficking, the Danish Immigration Service, the Danish Return Agency and the DRC Danish Refugee Council meet regularly to coordinate and develop support measures for victims of human trafficking.
In addition, the Danish Centre against Human Trafficking is responsible for a number of permanent and ad hoc forums, networks and partnerships. The centre also participates in international forums, including within the Council of Baltic Sea States, the Nordic Council of Ministers, the EU Network of National Rapporteurs and Coordinators (NACR), the Organization for Security and Co‑operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe.
Cooperation between the authorities and NGOs
The Danish Centre against Human Trafficking and the NGOs AmiAmi, HopeNow and Reden International hold two annual meetings together. These meetings ensure coherence and continuous development of national support measures for victims of human trafficking. The NGOs and the centre have cooperation agreements that also commit the parties to hold bilateral case and coordination meetings.
The centre has established a task force in Jutland focusing on combatting trafficking for prostitution. The participants include AmiAmi, the Danish Tax Agency and the police districts of North Jutland, Central and West Jutland, East Jutland and South Jutland.
Other NGOs also contribute to anti‑trafficking efforts. For example, the Danish Red Cross works closely with the centre because many victims of human trafficking in Denmark are asylum seekers who may be accommodated in asylum centres operated by the Danish Red Cross on behalf of the Danish Immigration Service.
Special considerations regarding children
Professionals are mandated to report any concern regarding children to the municipality. The mandatory reporting applies to public employees and others performing public functions, including doctors and staff working in residential facilities, crisis centres and treatment services. These individuals have a particular duty to act solely based on circumstances that suggest a child or young person may need special support.
When the municipality receives a report, it must assess within 24 hours whether the child’s or young person’s health or development is at risk and whether urgent interventions are required. The municipality must also assess whether the report indicates a need for further support measures for the child or young person.