Tuesday, January 28, 2014
OPERATION NORTHERN SPOTLIGHT
Canadian Police Focus on Young Women Coerced Into Sex Trade
Last week, police services across Canada participated in a two-day blitz focusing on the growing concern that young women are being forced to participate in the sex trade.
Operation Northern Spotlight involved 26 police services on January 22 and 23, 2014 and was centered around hotels and motels on major thoroughfares in 30 cities and towns across the country. Over 330 young women, some as young as 15 years of age, were interviewed. Police found some were being forced to perform sexual acts, multiple times a day, for paying male customers.
Although the Criminal Code section refers to this activity as "Human Trafficking," the public may better understand this issue as "sex slavery." Although many of the women appear to be making their own decisions to participate for financial gain, investigators found several teenagers and young women were being forced to perform through threats of violence, physical intimidation, drug dependency and other forms of coercion. Part or all of the proceeds from the sexual encounters were kept by their adult male controller or pimp.
Police Services will continue to monitor any incidents of "forced participation" in hopes of assisting any woman involved in the sex trade business against her will.
The 26 police services participating were:
Ontario
Barrie PS; Brockville PS; Cornwall PS; Durham Regional PS; Halton Regional PS; Kingston PS; London PS; Niagara Regional PS; Ontario Provincial Police; Ottawa PS; Peel Regional PS; RCMP; Greater Sudbury PS; Thunder Bay PS; Waterloo Regional PS; Windsor PS; York Regional PS.
Western Canada
Calgary PS Alta; Edmonton PS Alta; Regina PS Sask; Saskatoon PS Sask; Winnipeg PS Man.
Eastern Canada
Gatineau PS, Que; Halifax Regional PS, NS; Saint John's RNC, NFLD; Saint John PS, NB.
In Winnipeg, investigators with the Counter Exploitation Unit (CEU) were assisted by officers from the Counter Exploitation Team (CET) and Missing Persons Unit (MPU). A total of 15 women, aged between 18-45yrs, were interviewed in hotels located throughout the City of Winnipeg. Investigators believe that some of these women were under some level of control. They were offered support services, including health care and mental/emotional supports, in hopes they can consider other options.
Clients are made aware of the girls through various websites and often call or text a cell phone number to arrange the liaisons at local hotels and motels.
The Winnipeg Police Service Counter Exploitation Unit remains committed to helping all victims and connecting them with community resources to support them.
Over the past year, the Counter Exploitation Unit has been investigating several incidents in which young people were being coerced into the sex trade.
Winnipeg Police Service takes these cases seriously and will conduct a thorough investigation, as well as protect the victims of this crime.
In Winnipeg, anyone with new information that might assist investigators is asked to contact the Counter Exploitation Unit (CEU) at 1-204-986-3464.
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