Trafficking in human beings for sexual and other purposes - Polisen

3. Criminal Development24Several of the victims were also minors and weredirectly dependent on the perpetrators. Others lackedconfidence in the law-enforcement agencies, or wereafraid of reprisals. The family members occasionallyalso had several different ID documents with multipleidentities that made it difficult to identify the victims.The groups responsible developed a deliberatestrategy, including forcing the victims to commitcrimes with low punishment tariffs that are not a priorityfor the police. This made it more difficult todetect serial crime. The national volume and serialcrime initiative that was initiated in September 2011means enhanced opportunities for identifying andcombating suspected human trafficking, providing inturn increased opportunities for using secret meansof coercion in combating serial crimes.The background to this initiative is a growing problemof criminal gangs that move rapidly through thecountry, and often specialise in specific types ofcrime. Since many crimes are committed in severalcounties, the police authorities need to develop theability to share information rapidly, coordinate casesand conduct joint operations. This investment willstrengthen the police’s ability to prosecute these gangsand enable rapid responses in areas where crime is onthe increase. The agreement, which includes theSwedish National Police Board, the National Bureauof Investigation and the police authorities, is a prerequisiteif the police are to be more successful in theirfight against serial crime throughout the country 31 .The agreement is made up of five parts:1. Strategic and operational consensus and nationalstatus report2. A national reinforcement resource3. Special action against serial crime4. Coordination of cases5. Enhanced opportunities for exchanging informationwithin the police31 National Bureau of Investigation, doc ref: RKP A-400-68/11.An important element of this initiative is the nationalvolume and serial crime force that is intended torespond rapidly in areas where crime is on theincrease. The force’s 136 police officers are split into14 groups on patrol and four surveillance teams.Where and when the force is sent in is decided by theNational Operational Management Team (NOLG). Itis led by the Head of the National Bureau of Investigationand is made up representatives from the policeservice’s areas of collaboration, the Swedish NationalPolice Board and the Swedish Prosecution Authority.The team’s main task is to decide, using a joint statusreport, where and when the national volume and serialcrime force should be deployed.3.2.3 Exploitation of foreign berry-pickers inSwedenIn Sweden, seasonal commercial berry picking iscarried out largely by temporary foreign workersduring the summer and early autumn months. Theberries are sold to the food and pharmaceuticalindustries in Sweden and abroad. In recent years collaborationbetween the different players within theindustry has increased, leading to a higher level ofspecialisation and a marked division of rolesbetween those players. Certain players function aspurchasers on site in the forests and are in direct contactwith the berry pickers, while others act as wholesalers,and are responsible for selling on to Swedishand foreign customers.In 2011, the police received information aboutirregularities and suspected trafficking in relation toberry pickers from Bulgaria. The conditionsdescribed were similar to those also reported andinvestigated in 2010 and the suspects belonged to thesame criminal gang that was suspected then too. Inconnection with the investigation in 2011, it was discoveredthat the suspects in the 2010 case were againon site in Sweden and were involved in a similar operation.This led to the Swedish Prosecution Authoritydeciding to reopen the old case.