Two women believed to be involved in “exploitive situations” within the community met with the Chatham-Kent Police Services recently and one of them has received services offered by Chatham-Kent Victim Services.
This was part of the local police service’s involvement in a recent week-long, co-ordinated effort to stop human trafficking, called Operation Northern Spotlight, that included participation by 45 police services across Ontario.
A total of 317 police officers, support staff and victim services professionals engaged with 218 potential victims as part of a joint effort co-ordinated by the Ontario Provincial Police that assisted seven victims. The victims were recovered by police services from Peel Region, Niagara Region, Waterloo and Ottawa.
This was part of a national operation in partnership with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
“Human trafficking is a deplorable crime that threatens the safety, livelihood and dignity of those who are being exploited and abused,” said Deputy Commissioner Rick Barnum, OPP investigations and organized crime, in a written statement.
“This is a complex issue that affects some of the most vulnerable people in our society and does not recognize jurisdictional boundaries,” he added. “It is our duty to recognize and protect these people from exploitation and it is imperative that we have a concentrated effort amongst all our partners to be effective.”
To date, there have been no criminal charges laid which are directly and solely related to human trafficking offences in Chatham-Kent, The Chatham Daily New was told in response to questions submitted to the CKPS intelligence unit.
However, police said human trafficking has been identified as an issue within the municipality.
“There have been several occurrences in Chatham-Kent, which support the belief that human trafficking is, and has been, prevalent in the area,” police said.
Chatham-Kent is a hot spot for “pimps” and escorts due to its geographic location, police said, citing the fact the municipality has Highway 401 access, is near the U.S. border and located between two large cities.
“These occurrences have primarily involved people who are transient and don’t reside in Chatham-Kent,” police said. “These people are also linked to not only human trafficking offences, but other related offences,” police said, citing drugs and violence as examples.
Police said traffickers operate by using “stages of exploitation,” that include luring, seducing, grooming, coercion and manipulation, and exploitation.
“They make promises of money, opportunity, love, stability, popularity,” police said.
“Victims are most often terrified of their trafficker,” police added. “And, traffickers know that because of this, it is a ‘safe crime’ for them to commit and it is extremely lucrative.”
Traffickers also know that physically moving frequently from place-to-place makes it more difficult to be identified and tracked, police said.
“This is also a tactic they use in an attempt to confuse their victims about where they are, where they have been and where they are going,” police said.
People of all backgrounds can get caught up in human trafficking and people can be trafficked for a variety of reasons, police said.
According to police, the risk factors include, but are not limited to: addiction, mental health and body image issues as well as social isolation and low self-esteem.
If someone suspects a person may be a victim of human trafficking, police said they can contact:
– Chatham-Kent police – 519-436-6600 or 9-1-1 in case of an emergency
– Crime Stoppers – 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
– Victim Services – 519-436-6630
– Kids Help Phone – 1-800-668-6868 or online at www.kidshelpphone.ca
– Chatham-Kent Women’s Centre – 519-354-6360
– Human Trafficking National Coordinator Centre – 1-613-993-7267 or online at https://ift.tt/2Bt2E9E
Signs someone may be a victim of human trafficking
– Fear for one’s safety or the safety of a loved one
– Unexplained bruises or other signs of physical abuse
– Tattoos or branding
– Lack of life’s necessities (medical care, food, clothing)
– New expensive clothing, purses, jewelry
– Addiction to drugs and/or alcohol
– Changes in behaviour – depression, anxiety
– Freedom of movement seems to be restricted
– Cryptic text messages and conservations
– No passport or other identification
– New boyfriend and/or friends nobody knows
– Signs of isolation
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