Govanhill community: Horror but no surprise as four guilty of trafficking

For parts of the Govanhill community the news of a trafficking gang operating on their doorsteps fills them with horror - but not with surprise.

Locals claim they first started raising concerns as early as 2011 - and top cops say there were complaints as early as 2006.

Joe Beaver, until recently a member of Crosshill and Govanhill Community Council, said: "Everyone said to us [the community council] that nothing like that happens in Govanhill.

"The residents of Govanhill knew that wasn't the case.

"A lot of people have noticed things.

"And they brought it to the authority's attention and we're told there's nothing going on but then this big story is breaking."

Operation Synapsis, investigating trafficking in Glasgow and Govanhill, was set up in 2014.

However, complaints were raised by residents for several years prior with locals going to police to complain about concerning behaviour in the area.

READ MORE: Govanhill trafficking gang: Police and prosecutors tell of investigation and trial

Locals who spoke to the Evening Times told of various problems.

l-r, top-bottom Anil Wagle, Vojtech Gombar, Ratislav Adam and Jana Sandorova

In one case a concerned resident said that the entrance buzzer to their close was being rung at all hours of the night.

They reported men coming and going from the building to one flat in particular.

READ MORE: Govanhill trafficking gang was family who sold women like cattle

Detective Superintendent Fil Capaldi, in charge of National Rape Task Force and the National Human Trafficking Unit, agreed that concerns had been raised.

He said: "The issue probably extends further back than 2011.

"I remember as a detective over at Cathcart Police Station back in 2006/7 and the same concerns were being expressed at that time.

"The reality is that this instance was centred in Govanhill. However, trafficking could happen anywhere, and we know it’s happening in other communities across Scotland because we have active investigations with regard to ongoing human trafficking cases.

"So, while it’s easy to say that people have raised concerns in Govanhill before and lo and behold we have a trafficking operation in Govanhill, the same could be said for other areas.

"If those concerns had been raised by the local community, and they have been in the past, I think that the fact four people are sitting in the High Court charged with trafficking offences, would provide that level of reassurance that we have actually listened to the local community, we have intervened, and we have rescued 14 women from that situation."

Local councillor Soryia Siddique said: "Concerns regarding potential exploitation in the area have been raised by residents, including at the Govanhill Regeneration Group meeting in the presence of Police Scotland.

"Policing is a remit of the Scottish Government and hence the First Minister as the Member of Scottish Parliament for Govanhill has a leading role in the area to resolve these serious issues in her constituency."

Detective Inspector Steve McMillan said any concerns raised by local people will be investigated.

READ MORE: Govanhill trafficking gang was family who sold women like cattle

But he added that early complaints found no evidence of criminal activity.

He said: "What I would say is, to the best of my knowledge, concerns were raised to the police and were investigated.

"It’s right that people raise concerns but it doesn’t always mean that their concerns were right in the first place.

"There has been a significant level of cultural change in Govanhill as an area, in quite a relatively short space of time, and people do look at people from other cultures differently.

"People might be concerned but concerns raised were investigated and there was nothing to say there was trafficking involved.

"There was no criminality found."

Local councillor Mhairi Hunter urged anyone with worries to contact the police.

READ MORE: Govanhill trafficking gang: How did victims fall prey to twisted traffickers?

She said: "In my experience police take concerns very seriously, there are challenges in being able to take cases to prosecution but I would encourage anyone with concerns to contact the police.

"Even if they just have a worry that something doesn't seem right I would encourage them to make those concerns known, it could help to rescue someone from exploitation."