York Regional Police say they’ve made 10 arrests in the fight against child prostitution and human trafficking.
At a press conference today in Aurora, YRP say they laid more than 95 charges in a widespread investigation that started in December and continued last month. Officers were looking for girls and women forced to work as prostitutes, to get them out of the situation and home to their families.
YRP drug and vice unit officers say they’re making “aggressive efforts” to get girls and young women out of the sex trade.
In many cases, police say, the victims are forced into the sex trade through threats of violence, coercion, trickery, and violence at the hands of pimps. Police say these women are victims of crime.
According to a tweet from the YRP today, 29 per cent of the 31 girls and women involved in the human trafficking initiative were younger than 18, and on average were brought into prostitution at the age of 14.
Investigators hope to speak with more people involved in the sex trade who are looking for a way out or who need help escaping.
Heather Wright is following this story for CTV News at 6 tonight
