A new law to tackle human trafficking, with better protection for its victims and tougher penalties for those convicted of the crime, has been backed by the Scottish Parliament. Holyrood supported the general principles of the legislation, which creates a specific offence of human trafficking for the first time and increases the maximum penalty for offenders to life imprisonment. The Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill was brought forward by the Scottish Government to strengthen existing criminal law against the practice, enhance the status of victims, and boost support for them. Under the proposals, prosecutors will be given guidance from the Lord Advocate setting out a presumption against prosecution of victims in cases where trafficked people have been forced into committing crime. The legislation will also commit Scottish ministers to publishing and updating a human trafficking strategy. Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said, 'We intend to make Scotland a hostile place for traffickers and those who exploit others, and to better identify and support potential and confirmed victims.'