4.4 The Psychological Impact of Deception by Traffickers There are many different trafficking scenarios. It is important to acknowledge that some people cross borders under the control of traffickers because they feel they have no choice and they are not under any illusion that the person who has arranged their journey or is escorting them cares about their best interests. However, for those who have been deceived into trafficking it is devastating to learn that they were targeted, often over a long term period, by a person in whom they instilled their trust. An Eastern European woman trafficked for sexual exploitation The traffickers and the pimps are very good at controlling. You don’t even realize it at the beginning. He has a simple conversation with you, but he’s learning all about you. Then it starts to become more heavy. He controls when you wake up, who you see, who you talk to, calling you on your mobile 24/7. “In the beginning he asked me if I wanted to use his mobile phone to call my family. I was really happy thinking he was generous and kind. I didn’t have much money at the time so I was really grateful. Afterwards he would ask me questions about my family and other stuff. But once he had all my numbers everything changed. He said he had talked to my sister and my mother. He said he had told them that I was working as a prostitute. I was horrified. Then he laughed.” Traffickers often work to win favour with the victim by identifying their specific needs and providing them with the things they need most, for example: food, money, employment, the opportunity to escape from a difficult personal situation, friendship or love. The turning point at which the trafficked person discovers the true intentions of the trafficker may be abrupt and sudden and can be extremely violent. It shocks and disorients the victim, dismantling their sense of security and identity, ensuring their helplessness in the face of further brutality, control and exploitation. HBF clinicians work with some people who, prior to being trafficked, have moved into accommodation provided by a concerned “friend” or relative, often after the death of a parent or other family member. After some weeks or months they may start to suffer beatings, rape/sexual violence, subjugation into domestic servitude and/or other forced labour, and suffer humiliating punishment for any minor disobedience. Subjugation of this kind prepares victims for trafficking for further exploitation. Clinical notes on an East African woman trafficked for sexual exploitation On arrival in the UK, the man took Jemi to a house. There was no sign of his wife or children. She asked where his wife was. At that point, “He changed. He said ‘You didn’t come here to assist my wife.’” She started crying and asked the man to take her back to her country. That night the man raped her and hit her. After that he bought men to the house. He informed her that they had already paid to have sex with her. Other victims have been told by a friend/partner or spouse that they are going on a holiday or starting a new academic or training course, or entering a better job opportunity and are later confronted with an apparently completely changed person, or are passed on to another person who commits violent acts against them, sells them to others, or exploits and degrades them. This “turning point” may happen far from the victim’s home, friends and family, in another country with a different culture or language, which increases their helplessness and isolation. There are also cases where betrayal is only gradually realized. For example “loverboy” traffickers may introduce coercion and exploitation of the victim very slowly, over a significant period of time. A Southern European woman trafficked for sexual exploitation Natalia became friends with Jon, a man who frequently visited the shop where she worked. The friendship developed and she would see him whenever she could, although he often went to Greece for several weeks at a time. Jon courted her over several years but the relationship did not become sexual. She hoped to marry him but her parents would not permit it. “I decided to run away with him. He promised he’d marry me and treat me well.” Jon took her to Greece and left her with a friend of his while he went away “for a few days”. The friend informed her that she had been sold to him by Jon and that he was not coming back. “He didn’t want you to be his wife, he just wanted you to be a prostitute.” People may work for weeks or months on a building site or in catering work, before it becomes clear to them that they 71