A new tool is now available for victims of human trafficking.
The Windsor Police Service has launched a new online reporting portal and an awareness campaign to fight human trafficking locally.
Advertisements will now be posted on over 80 transit buses and at bus shelters across the city which focuses on encouraging residents to recognize the signs of trafficking, report suspicious activity, and help connect victims with support.
Human trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation, harbouring, or control of a person for the purpose of exploitation. This can include sexual exploitation, forced labour, or other forms of abuse. Victims are often isolated, controlled, or afraid to seek help.
The new online reporting portal allows individuals to safely report suspected trafficking involving themselves or someone they know.
According to Windsor Police, there have been 43 charges in eight separate human trafficking investigations this year.
David Deluca, Inspector with Windsor Police, says a sign to look out for is individuals who are suddenly isolated from friends and family.
“If you know someone who was previously gregarious and outgoing and suddenly is now in a new relationship and suddenly is withdrawn, that is usually one of our key factors. There’s also a vulnerable population out there, a lot of the victims are under the age of 16. We have a large population of vulnerable teenagers out there, keep your eyes open, you will see the signs.”
He says there are many forms of human trafficking.
“We have one side of human trafficking, which is our vulnerable teen population, but there’s also a human trafficking side that is labour related. Individuals that are brought here for promises of employment and they essentially end up in indentured servitude. They continue to work and they pay individuals for it.”
Inspector Deluca also stressed the importance of parents monitoring their teens’ social media to ensure they aren’t being targeted.
Shelley Gilbert, Executive Director of Legal Assistance of Windsor, the organization that leads the Windsor-Essex Counter Exploitation Network, says an increase on social media plays a big role, but there are many factors.
“I think we see increase of homelessness, of addictions, etc. All of the vulnerabilities that can lead to someone being trafficked, that can lead to people being exploited, I think we’ve got to recognize those. And that’s why service providers that provide housing, that provide shelters, that provide income, that help with education and retraining are so important as well.”
The online report is mainly fill in the blanks. Investigators would then go through the information and follow up.
Over 300 additional posters will be distributed to community partners. The posters were developed in consultation with Victim Services of Windsor & Essex County, the Windsor-Essex Counter Exploitation Network (WECEN), and Windsor & Essex County Crime Stoppers.