Markham council takes stand on human trafficking, citing local incidents

Yorkregion.com
May 19, 2016
By Amanda Persico

Markham is taking a stand against human trafficking.

During this week’s council meeting, council voted unanimously in favour of the Save the Girl Next Door Act, an anti-human trafficking act awaiting royal assent from the provincial legislature.

Markham is not without cause, said Regional Councillor Nirmala Armstrong, who brought forward the motion.

In recent years, there have been several Markham residents charged in alleged human trafficking rings.

Earlier this year, charges were laid in a juvenile prostitution case involving a Markham teen, she added.

Since 2014, there have been close to 150 occurrences of human trafficking that have led to more than 350 charges in the Toronto area, Armstrong added.

The act calls on the province to establish a special provincial task force consisting of police, prosecutors and victim services in an effort to co-ordinate investigations.

Mayor Frank Scarpitti, who is also the chairperson of the York Region Police services board, took the time to mention notable activity by YRP.

Since 2008, more than 400 arrests have been made in the commercial sexual exploitation realm and more than 200 victims rescued, Scarpitti said.

“York Regional Police have been recognized nationally and internationally for their proactive work and for their victim-centred efforts.”

Members of YRP have been asked to assist other police forces across the country and in the United States to develop human trafficking victim screening practices for first responders as well as practices on how to deal with juvenile prostitution based on YRP best practices.

To tackle the human trafficking issue, police have taken a more holistic approach, working with the Children’s Aid Society as well as other service providers and the hospitality business industry.

The provincial act also calls for human trafficking to be an included offence under the Ontario sex offender registry program.

Another component of the act also allows for police to issue a three-year protection order for human trafficking victims.  Markham wants to see stronger wording to rescue victims under the age of 18.