The Sarnia Police Service is getting some new tools to help combat human trafficking locally.
The service received a $37,537 grant from the province which will be used to purchase a licence plate reader and surveillance equipment.
Overall, Ontario is providing $1.5 million in funding through the Civil Remedies Grant Program for 21 projects.
Chief Norm Hansen said human trafficking is a very serious issue.
"It's an issue everywhere and we want to try and curb it as much as we can, obviously," said Hansen. "This piece of equipment [the licence plate reader] will assist us in doing that. It automatically identifies various offences with vehicles and identifies owners and players and links it to other situations in the province.
"We participate every year in project Northern Spotlight and we're part of the human trafficking initiative in the province. We're keen to assist in any way we can."
Sarnia police are also building a local database of perpetrators and working to identify, engage with, and assist victims.
Incidents of human trafficking in Sarnia-Lambton include the arrest of a 31-year-old man at a London Line hotel in July.
He was charged with nine offences including sexual exploitation, trafficking a person under 18-years-old, advertising sexual services, and benefiting from sexual services provided by individuals under age.