Human Trafficking Awareness Day not confined to one day

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It’s Human Trafficking Awareness Day on Saturday.

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But Peel Regional Police Det.-Sgt. Bob Hackenbrook and his Human Trafficking Unit team members strive to raise awareness of this heinous crime every day.

“Human trafficking is something that can happen anywhere, to anyone,” Hackenbrook told the Toronto Sun. “Victims and survivors of human trafficking aren’t numbers – they are sisters, brothers, friends and loved ones who have been illegally exploited.”

Observing this specially designated day on Feb. 22 is not symbol for Peel Regional Police, but it’s operational. They will have information booths up in malls on Saturday and police will work with community partners on this because they know that part of the strategy to stopping it is educating potential victims about predators, letting people know there is help available for those trapped in such situations, and reassuring them that human traffickers will be prosecuted and imprisoned.

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“In many cases, the victims don’t know they’re being exploited or are too afraid to come forward,” said Hackenbrook. “This is why it is so important to know the signs, which can be found on our web page Human Trafficking – Peel Regional Police .”

“If you suspect human trafficking is taking place, you can call the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline or Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous (Crime Stoppers can be reached at 1-800-222-8477 and the National Human Trafficking Hotline is at 1-833-900-1010). Remember, report it if you suspect it, don’t ignore it,” he added.

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Many times weapons are used in the enslavement of the trafficking victims.

“Sometime the traffickers turn violent, assaulting victims or using a firearm to intimidate them,” said Hackenbrook. “Peel Vice and Human Trafficking Team have seized five firearms from traffickers in 2024.”

They also made a lot of arrests in 2024 and in the years previous.

“In the last five years, the Vice and Human Trafficking Unit has charged 187 people with Human Trafficking-related offences, laid 652 Human Trafficking-related charges, supported 178 victims through the provincial court system and, by working with our embedded Provincial Human Trafficking Crown Team, PRP obtained the largest sentence in Canada involving two victims of Human Trafficking, Regina vs Korey Cambell that resulted in a 14-year jail sentence.”

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Police want people to know this because if they do, they can prevent someone from being trafficked.

And they warn that these traffickers, and their networks, are very sneaky in how they operate.

“Human Trafficking is not just a physical crime it’s a psychological crime. The traffickers usually treat the victims well, showering them with gifts and making them feel special,” Hackenbrook explained. “Then the trafficker will force the victim to repay them by forcing the victim to have sex for money.”

They have also stopped victims from being put on planes bound for other parts of the country or across international borders.

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As Peel’s human trafficking team gets ready to set up in the Bramalea City Centre and Square One in Mississauga on Saturday, they have two key goals in mind: Prevention and Intervention.

On prevention, Hackenbrook said: “We provide awareness presentations to various community members and a three-hour training to our service providers, who tend to be the first points of contact for a victim/survivor.”

On intervention, he added: “We have an anti-human trafficking services hub called nCourage, which is a place victims/survivors can attend to receive supports (medical, trauma counseling, life skills and legal assistance)” and end up in a dedicated safe house where they can stay for up to six months while they recover from this trauma.

“On behalf of the Peel Regional Police, we want to reiterate the importance of awareness and education to possible victims that there are supports available and we will continue to work with community partners to ensure these supports and services are provided,” Hackenbrook said.

And he does not mean just on Human Trafficking Awareness Day, but every day.

jwarmington@postmedia.com

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