HUMAN traffickers are preparing to capitalise on Brexit by filling gaps in the labour market with modern-day slaves, Scottish crime experts have warned.

The Scottish Business Resilience Centre (SBRC) has told businesses to “stay vigilant” amid fears criminal gangs will try to exploit a sharp drop in the migrant workforce.

Figures released earlier this year showed that 692 human trafficking crimes have been detected by police across Scotland since 2015.

However, the SBRC, which brings together experts from the emergency services to advise employers, said the UK’s exit from the European Union could be seen by some criminals as an unprecedented opportunity.

David MacCrimmon, who has been seconded from Police Scotland as SBRC’s serious organised crime and counter-terrorism lead, said gangs could try to infiltrate firms in urgent need of staff.

He said: “The UK is still seen as a desirable place to come for employment opportunities and this can lead to, as it has previously, criminal gangs exploiting people as they’re put to work, often in horrendous working and living conditions.

“We must open our eyes to this, not just the eyes of the public but the eyes of the business community.

“We need to be able to spot the signs of potential victims of human trafficking and know what to do and who to call should we encounter victims.”

Opposition politicians last night said the problem was a “horrifying sign of the times”, and another

reason to avoid a no-deal Brexit,

given its potential to put up barriers to EU migrants.

EU migrants account for one in 20 of Scotland’s total workforce, with the rural economy particularly reliant on staff from overseas.

Around 10,000 people are employed in the seasonal soft fruit and vegetable trade, the same in the food and drink sector, and more than 4500 in the fishing industry.

The tourism sector employs another 21,000 EU citizens.

Last year, amid uncertainty over their post-Brexit status, around 12,000 EU nationals quit the Scottish Labour market, the first fall in EU nationals in the workforce since 2007.

Mr MacCrimmon said signs of human trafficking included a neglected appearance, poor nutrition, being withdrawn and submissive or vague about how they suffered injuries.

Although victims were often moved in plain sight, and may travel by bus or train, a distrust of people in uniform and excessive working hours were could also be signs of trafficking.

Urging people to contact police if they suspected someone was a victim, he said: “Victims of human trafficking are often hidden in plain view and there are many examples of that, whether it has been cases of cleaners in large office blocks, workers in hand car washes in our towns and cities or those working on our high streets in nail bars and other shops.”

Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: “It’s a horrifying sign of the times when businesses are being warned to be on the lookout for victims of human trafficking.

“The UK Government’s ‘hostile environment’ has already normalised hate crime and deportations, now we’re told to expect an increase in modern slavery as Brexit makes the situation even worse.

“As we’ve seen from high-profile cases in Scotland in the last year, the police already have their hands full with tackling human trafficking among drugs and prostitution.

“Figures from National Crime Agency (NCA) showed an increase of around 40 per cent in human trafficking in Scotland since the start of last year.

“The hostile, abusive immigration regime is a direct cause of trafficking and exploitation, and the culture of poverty wages makes the situation worse. A punitive immigration system and deregulated working conditions allow organised crime to flourish. Brexit and the loss of our freedom of movement will only deepen labour exploitation, both legal and illegal.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “Brexit has already made our communities poorer, now it risks opening a whole new front in the war on human trafficking. “This is another reason why we must avoid a no deal Brexit at all costs.” and vegetable trade, the same in the food and drink sector, and more than 4,500 in the fishing industry.

The tourism sector employs another 21,000 EU citizens.

Last year, amid uncertainty over their post-Brexit status, 12,000 EU nationals quit the Scottish labour market, the first fall in EU nationals in the workforce since 2007.

Mr MacCrimmon said signs of human trafficking included a neglected appearance, poor nutrition, being withdrawn and submissive or vague about how they suffered injuries.

Although victims were often moved in plain sight and may travel by bus or train, a distrust of people in uniform and excessive working hours were also possible signs of trafficking.

He urged people to contact the police if they suspected someone was a victim. 

He said: “Victims of human trafficking are often hidden in plain view and there are many examples of that, whether it has been cases of cleaners in large office blocks, workers in hand car washes in our towns and cities or those working on our high streets in nail bars and other shops.”

Patrick Harvie, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, said: “It’s a horrifying sign of the times when businesses are being warned to be on the lookout for victims of human trafficking. 

“The UK Government’s ‘hostile environment’ has already normalised hate crime and deportations, now we are told to expect an increase in modern slavery as Brexit makes the situation even worse.

“As we’ve seen from high-profile cases in Scotland in the last year, the police already have their hands full with tackling human trafficking among drugs and prostitution. 
“Figures from National Crime Agency (NCA) showed an increase of around 40 per cent in human trafficking in Scotland since the start of last year.

“The hostile, abusive immigration regime is a direct cause of trafficking and exploitation, and the culture of poverty wages makes the situation worse. A punitive immigration system and deregulated working conditions allow organised crime to flourish. 

“Brexit and the loss of our freedom of movement will only deepen labour exploitation, both legal and illegal.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “Brexit has already made our communities poorer, now it risks opening a whole new front in the war on human trafficking. 

“This is another reason why we must avoid a no deal Brexit at all costs.”

A Europe-wide police crackdown on human trafficking and modern slavery in June saw 44 arrests  in the UK, including six in Scotland. 

Three children were among those who officers believe were being exploited, one of them sexually.