www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, May 6, 2016 | 8 Police help those not free to make their choice by Tim Whitnell Metroland West Media Martin Dick likes to believe that they are making a dent, and a difference, in the realm of human trafficking and in improving the lives of some of its victims. The detective with Halton Regional Police, head of the service's Human Trafficking Unit (HTU), gave a presentation recently to police services board members, as well as the chief and a deputy chief, at police headquarters. Dick and Det.-Sgt. Brad Murray, the latter about to finish his duties as supervisor of the Guns, Gangs and Drugs, Human Trafficking and Vice units, told the board members and high-ranking officers assembled that Halton is a region ripe for the sexual trafficking of women for several reasons. First, it is an in demand area for the traffickers because of its proximity to major highway corridors -- the QEW and Hwy. 401 -- allowing quick access to many towns to move victims around to clients in in-demand areas. The socio-economic status of the region is one that has many well-to-do residents living here who can afford sexual services. Dick noted there is little organized crime in the area so the competition in the region for such services is minimal, "somewhat of a safe haven" for the traffickers, he observed. The sexual trafficking of minors and young There's a shift in the region from selling drugs to selling (underage) girls. You can cut a drug, but you can only sell a kilo(gram) of cocaine once. If you have a female sex worker, you can sell her up to 12 times a day for 365 days a year, and then you can `buy' another one. I believe that education is 100 per cent the key to eradicating the problem, in Canada, not just here. Halton Regional Police Service Detective Martin Dick Detective Martin Dick women is harder to detect as there is "no streetlevel prostitution" in the region -- it is hidden in hotels and motels. The unit has a "very good relationship" with the owners of hotels and motels in Halton. That wasn't the case before the unit was established three years ago, said Dick. He had a meeting with the proprietors of area hotels and motels in 2013 to open up the lines of communication and says it is working better. Dick imparted some sobering statistics. In referring to a free classified ads website, he said it is a hub for people offering sexual services. "At 9:15 Thursday morning, we'll have about 50 sex trade workers advertising (there) right now." Dick said Bill C-36, the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, enacted in Canada in December 2014, was meant "to reduce the demand for sexual services across the country." In part, it does not make prostitution illegal for the `independent sellers' or direct providers. The legislation though makes it illegal for someone to `buy', advertise or for others to profit from sexual services. Human trafficking is seen as more lucrative to some, usually men -- HTU doesn't call them pimps, saying it glorifies them -- than the drug trade. "There's a shift in the region from selling drugs to selling (underage) girls," said Dick. "You can cut a drug but you can only sell a kilo(gram) of cocaine once. If (you) have a female sex worker, you can sell her up to 12 times a day for 365 days a year, and then you can `buy' another one. "I believe that education is 100 per cent the key to eradicating the problem, in Canada, not just here," added Dick. Halton police's HTU has been laying more and more human trafficking charges each subsequent year in its short existence. In 2013, the HTU had nearly 80 files on the go and laid about 10 charges. In 2014, the unit had 200 files and laid about 50 charges. For 2015, it had 175 files and laid about 55 charges. To date in 2016, the unit has 40 files and laid about 20 charges. Most of the cases are still before the courts. Halton police's HTU has three detectives assigned to it. Prior to 2013, there was no specialized unit looking into cases of human trafficking or looking out for its victims. "Our growth awareness has grown dramatically," said Halton police Deputy Chief Nishan Duraiappah during the recent police services board meeting. see Easier on p.10 ONE DAY ONLY S at u r D a y, M a y 7 t H , 9 a M - 2 p M 50% or More and MASTERCARD · CASH, DEBIT, VISA · Limited Quantities · First Come, First Served · Most Products Cash & Carry · No Rain Checks · Cannot be combined with any other offer or certificates POLLARD MANUFACTURING Most items Discounted patio Doors with Blinds Between the Glass Start at: $1,249 (5ft) 5ft and 6ft White Vinyl and $1,349 (6ft) DiSCouNteD DiSpLay DoorS & WiNDoWS Casements start at: $ 122 AyA Kitchens of oAKville 1195 north service roAd west New Doors start at: $ 860 Fixed Lites start at: $ 79 Single Hungs start at: $ 127 Don't forget to bring your winDow & Door measurements with you poLLarD WiNDoWS (905) KING RD. 905.847.1522 ayaoakville.com NORTH SERVICE ROAD APPLY AT THIS EVENT toll-free: 1-800-585-5561 N Q IA EW G AR A BRANT NOW HIRING 633-7444 WATERDOWN 1217 King Road, Burlington 403 HAMILTON QEW TORONTO PLAINS RD. PLAINS RD.