Stratford police have arrested four individuals in connection to a human trafficking investigation called Project Northern Spotlight.
The fifth installment of the initiative to suppress human trafficking involved members from 36 police services in Ontario.
They engaged directly with people suspected of partaking in the sex trade, potentially against their will.
In all police charged 25 people with 67 offences in a six day period.
Police were also able to ensure the safety of 16 people who were working in the sex trade as a minor or against their will.
The four suspects in Stratford were charged with counts of obstructing police, resist arrest and drug charges.
A total of 207 police officers and support staff engaged with 199 people and offered them information and contacts with community-based support agencies.
Charges include Trafficking in Persons under 18, Trafficking in Persons, Procure Sexual Services under 18, Procure Sexual Services, Receive Material Benefit under 18, Receive Material Benefit, Communicate for the Purpose of Obtaining for Consideration the Sexual Services of a Person, Exercise Control, Make Child Pornography, Distribute Child Pornography, Possess Child Pornography, Child Luring, Advertise Another Person’s Sexual Services, Assault, Obstruct Police, Resist Arrest, Weapons Dangerous, various Controlled Drug and Substances Act (CDSA) and Failure to Comply with Court Orders and Conditions including Breaches of Recognizance and Probation.
The following Ontario police services participated in this phase of Operation Northern Spotlight: Amherstburg Police Service, Akwesasne Police Service, Barrie Police Service, Brantford Police Service, Brockville Police Service, Chatham-Kent Police Service, Cobourg Police Service, Cornwall Community Police Service, Durham Regional Police Service, Gananoque Police Service, Guelph Police Service, Halton Regional Police Service, Hamilton Police Service, City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service, Kingston Police Service, LaSalle Police Service, London Police Service, Midland Police Service, Niagara Regional Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Orangeville Police Service, Ottawa Police Service, Peel Regional Police Service, Peterborough Police Service, Port Hope Police Service, Rama Police Service, RCMP, Sarnia Police Service, Six Nations Police Service, St. Thomas Police Service, Stratford Police Service, Greater Sudbury Police Service, Toronto Police Service, Waterloo Regional Police Service, Windsor Police Service, and York Regional Police.
Seventeen additional police services and several RCMP municipal detachments across Canada also participated in Operation Northern Spotlight.