London police officers have a new tool at their disposal to help victims of human trafficking.
The force's Crisis Intervention/Victim Support Unit launched a new website Monday that gives officers access to a list of services available from several agencies throughout the city to assist victims.
“This directory is a significant step forward in enabling us to help victims of human trafficking who are trying to escape the situation,” said Chief John Pare. “Not only is there a comprehensive list of service providers but it will provide our investigators with a step-by-step working plan to get help for a victim.”
The secure site, which can only be accessed by police and registered service agencies, is broken down into two sections -- care path and directory of services.
The care path section features a series of 22 questions that can be used to assess a victim's needs based on their individual situation, such as emergency housing, clothing, and mental health support. Once the questions are answered, a list of agencies providing the needed services is generated in order of priority.
The directory section currently lists 13 service agencies that are registered with the site, dubbed the Human Trafficking Community Services Support Portal. Police anticipate more agencies will sign up with the portal in the near future.
The Vanier Children’s Service and the Salvation Army Correctional And Justice Services London are among the agencies that have already registered with the portal.
“The Salvation Army sees first-hand hundreds of victims of human trafficking across the country, especially in the City of London,” said Julia Parker, executive director with the Salvation Army. “Our organization is committed to working with London Police Services to tackle this real issue happening in our community every single day.”
The site was developed following consultation with nearly 30 service providers and in collaboration with community members.
Agencies that would like to learn more or to register with the portal can contact the Crisis Intervention/Victim Support Unit at civsu@police.london.ca.