Human Trafficking

The London Police Service created the Human Trafficking Unit in late 2016 to focus on this crime that generally targets vulnerable young girls and women, although there are male victims as well. The victims are often held hostage and forced into the sex trade.

The most common type of trafficker is the ‘Romeo’ or ‘boyfriend’ trafficker who will lure a victim in online or in person with fancy gifts, promises of love and a better life. He will then get the victim hooked on drugs and isolate her from her friends and family, taking away her cell phone and her identification. Often, she is moved from hotel room to hotel room in different cities and sold by the trafficker for sex several times a day.

Possible signs that someone is being groomed for sex trafficking include changes such as:

• Withdrawing from family and friends

• Being secretive about their activities

• Having a new boyfriend, girlfriend or friend who they won’t introduce to friends and family

• Suddenly spending time with an older person or people

• Staying out more often and later

• Absences from school or a decline in school performance

• Wearing more sexualized clothing

• Having new clothing, jewellery etc. that they can’t afford to buy

• Suddenly having a new or second cell phone with a secret number

In 2020, the Human Trafficking Unit conducted 117 investigations, facilitated the escape of 10 victims, laid 12 human trafficking charges and more than 90 criminal and drug charges.

Increasing awareness of human trafficking, through initiatives such as Human Trafficking Awareness Day on February 22 each year is critical.

What is human trafficking?

Human trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation or harbouring of persons for the purposes of exploitation, typically in the sex industry or for forced labour. The key element is exploitation.

Warning signs that someone may be a victim of human trafficking

According to the Ontario’s Strategy to End Human Trafficking, some of the warning signs include:

• The person is not allowed to speak for themselves and their activities are controlled by someone else.

• The person is under 18 and involved in prostitution or sex work.

• The person is unpaid or paid very little to work, and seems to be treated poorly (long or unusual hours, not allowed breaks, forced to live in poor conditions, etc.).

• The person is repaying a large debt through labour or sex.

• The person seems fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid. They may avoid eye contact, seem fearful around police, etc.

• The person shows signs of abuse, such as bruising, cigarette burns, fractures, etc.

• The person has tattooing or branding symbols, particularly names.

• The person doesn’t have their own things or money, and doesn’t control their own passport or other documents.

• The person seems malnourished or lacks medical care.

• The person is moved frequently and may not know their surroundings well.

• The person has been reported missing.

• For more signs, visit the Ontario Government’s website. 

Supports & Services Available for Survivors of Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking- Phoenix and Journey to Justice Programs

Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing crimes worldwide. In Ontario, the majority of reported cases involve sexual exploitation, which may also be referred to as sex trafficking. Young women and girls are particularly at risk, though boys, men and people who identify as 2SLGBTQ+ are also targeted.

• The average age of recruitment into sex trafficking is 13 years old.
• Over 70% of human trafficking victims identified by police are under the age of 25.
• Approximately two-thirds of police-reported human trafficking cases in Canada occur in Ontario.

Human Trafficking Support and Resources

For more information about sex and labour human trafficking, visit the Ontario's anti-human trafficking strategy 2020-2025 webpage.