Operation Northern Spotlight Phase Five

[Man Mountain]

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local...police-instead-of-dates-in-calgary-hotel-room

Operation Northern Spotlight: Escorts met by police instead of dates in Calgary hotel room

MICHAEL LUMSDEN, POSTMEDIA

Published on: October 18, 2016 | Last Updated: October 18, 2016 6:06 AM MDT

Holed up in a hotel room close to the international airport, a handful of Calgary police officers and Mounties dig through piles of online escort ads as they prep for Day 2 of Operation Northern Spotlight.

As they make calls to unsuspecting sex workers and set up “dates,” the door knocks.

A woman thinks she is there to meet a customer, a person who will pay her for sex. Instead, she meets the officers, and explains what brought her to their door.

Like many Albertans, she says her family was dealt a bad hand by the recession. With no money and few options, she felt helpless. In desperate need for cash, she made a desperate decision.

“I had a great job, then Alberta’s crisis hit and I got laid off,” she says. “Two weeks later, my husband lost his job as well. The bills don’t stop coming.

“I never thought I’d be here. I never thought I would be having to hide from my family, telling them my cleaning job runs late every night.

“I’m here because this would have been an easy $350.”

She is one of 41 women who met face-to-face with the officers as part of the three-day operation.

Operation Northern Spotlight is a national effort from Canadian law enforcement to get information on women, and men, who continue to work in the high-risk world of the sex trade.

One by one, the officers make the calls. One by one, they hope to entice another person to leave the world’s oldest profession.

No charges will be laid this evening. The reason for this operation is far more jarring than a simple fine or charge.

“It helps us to identify the vulnerable side of society, who otherwise would be unidentified,” says Det. Paul Rubner of Calgary police’s counter-exploitation unit. “Too often, women are trapped in the cycle of violence and exploitation. This helps us to identify potential victims and provide an exit.”

The women contacted by the operation have very little in common other than the reason they find themselves in front of authorities.

Another knock at the door. This time, it’s a 49-year-old woman with wild hair and wearing a flowery, sheer top.

“I lost my job, and EI can only take you so far, especially if you’ve got health problems,” she says.

She explains, for her, this is a business.

“I have a tax-free savings account, so at the very least I can come out of this with something,”

The women all react differently to the initial contact with the detective. Some are hostile, as they realize the ruse means money has been lost.

Some react in tears, as the stark realization of their situation hits home. A few show relief, as they know help is there for them if they wish to take it.

As the interviews go longer and longer, you can hear a pin drop.

There’s another reason the police want to speak with these women — and it makes the victims’ hair stand on end.

Simply put, the information they give police could be the only way investigators can identify them later if they turn up dead.

“I know it’s scary for you; it has to be,” says Rubner to one of the sex workers. “But think of it this way, you walked into a room where a man had his gun on his belt. I’m a good guy, but a lot of them won’t be.”

The parade of workers continues into a third hour. Now, a fifth knock at the door.

This woman appears relieved when the detective comes clean about the call.

“I figured something like this would happen someday,” the young woman says. “I didn’t think it would happen tonight.”

She is a slight blond, not much older than someone you’d see working part-time at the mall after school. She is going to college and says, with the lack of well-paid jobs available, she turned to the sex trade.

While none of these women face charges resulting from this night, 47 people were charged with 135 offences in a sting operation last year while trying to hire sex workers. Legislation states that the women, or men, selling the act of sex will not be charged with an offence, but those buying it will still face a number of possible charges.

“The vast majority of the sex trade is taking place online now, which makes locating and identifying victims that much more difficult because of the anonymity involved,” says Rubner. “From a law enforcement side, it’s almost impossible to locate sex trade offenders, it’s a very labour-intensive effort.”

With the advent of online solicitation, “the stroll” has also become a thing of the past, but it doesn’t mean street sweeps are not part of the overall strategy to help as many victims as possible.

“Traditionally, downtown and the east side, if you’re looking at the street-level activity,” Rubner adds. “The Internet has spread it out and we are dealing with people from every quadrant of the city, and nearly every community within those quadrants.”

As the night comes to a close, there is disappointment among the officers about the one person who got away, a 15-year-old girl they repeatedly tried to reach without success.

“We won’t be giving up, but all we can do is come back tomorrow and try again,” Rubner says.

 

[Man Mountain]

http://globalnews.ca/news/3010667/3...-canada-wide-human-trafficking-investigation/

October 18, 2016 11:46 am Updated: October 18, 2016 11:47 am

32 people charged with 78 offences in Canada-wide human trafficking investigation
By Staff The Canadian Press

The RCMP, FBI and 52 Canadian police services participating in Operation Northern Spotlight.

TORONTO – Police say 32 people have been charged with 78 offences in a six-day co-ordinated investigation into human trafficking across Canada.

More than 390 officers from 53 Canadian police services, plus the FBI in the United States, directly engaged with people suspected of working in the sex trade, potentially against their will.

Most of the arrests in Operation Northern Spotlight occurred in Ontario where 25 people were charged with 67 offences.

Outside of Ontario, 17 police services and several RCMP municipal detachments across Canada participated in the investigation.

Charges laid during the investigation include trafficking in persons under 18, procure sexual services under 18, exercising control, making child pornography, and distributing child pornography.

Investigators say they were also able to ensure the safety of 16 people who had been working in the sex trade as a minor or against their will, including numerous people 16 and under.

They are encouraging anyone who believes they are a victim of human trafficking to come forward and report any occurrences to police.

“Canada’s police leaders remain committed to fighting human trafficking through intelligence-gathering, working with our law enforcement and community partners to support victims, and continuing our enforcement efforts,” said Rick Barnum of the Ontario Provincial Police.

Toronto police called human trafficking “a local, provincial and national problem that affects the most vulnerable in society.”

 

[Man Mountain]

http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer....ration-northern-spotlight-sex-trade-crackdown

No charges laid in Peterborough as part of Operation Northern Spotlight sex-trade crackdown
EXAMINER STAFF
Tuesday, October 18, 2016 5:45:05 EDT PM

No charges were laid locally as police officers once again took part in a national effort to suppress human trafficking.

As part of the fifth instalment of Operation Northern Spotlight co-ordinated earlier this month, members of from some 36 police forces from across Ontario engaged with those suspected of being in the sex trade, possibly against their will.

Investigations conducted over a six-day period led to some 25 people being charged with some 67 offences, city police stated. Officers also ensured the safety of 16 people working in the sex trade as a minor or against their will.

In total, 207 police officers and support staff engaged with 199 people and offered them information and contacts with community-based support agencies.

City police, with assistance from City of Kawartha Lakes police, fielded six officers and a member of the victim services unit during one night. They contacted six sex trade workers and ensured their safety, police stated.

Last year, in the fourth instalment, three prostitutes were contacted and no charges were laid as a a team of six officers and a member of the victim services unit worked together during one night. One sex trade worker was transported to a safe and secure location.

“This proactive project is not about laying charges. Instead, it’s about ensuring sex trade workers are safe and providing them with the confidence and community-based resources to leave the trade if they so choose,” city police criminal investigations unit Sgt. Mark Elliott stated.

The effort comes after Bill 17, the Saving the Girl Next Door Act brought back to life by Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock Progressive Conservative MPP Laurie Scott, passed second reading in the legislature. The proposed law died following the government decision to prorogue last month.

She spoke at Queen’s Park Tuesday, joined by Megan Walker of the London Abused Women’s Centre, who spoke to media about her harrowing experience on the front lines in the fight against human sex trafficking.

“We need legislative action, and the Saving the Girl Next Door Act represents an important step in the right direction. I can’t understand why Ontario doesn’t have any legislation on human sex trafficking, or why this government won’t pass this bill into law,” Walker stated in a press release.

Charges laid in Ontario as part of Operation Northern Spotlight included 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, distribute and possess child pornography, child luring, advertise another person’s sexual services, assault, obstruct police, resist arrest, weapons dangerous, various Controlled Drug and Substances Act charges and failure to comply with court orders and conditions including breaches of recognizance and probation.

The effort included police in Akwesasne, Barrie, Brantford, Brockville, Chatham-Kent, Cobourg, Cornwall, Durham Region, Gananoque, Guelph, Halton Region, Hamilton, Kawartha Lakes, Kingston, LaSalle, London, Midland, Niagara, the OPP, Orangeville, Ottawa, Peel Region, Port Hope, Rama, RCMP, Sarnia, Six Nations, St. Thomas, Stratford, Greater Sudbury, Toronto, Waterloo Region, Windsor and York Region.

Seventeen additional police forces and several RCMP municipal detachments across Canada also participated in Operation Northern Spotlight.

 

[johnsmit]

Well I am happy they are doing something. That being said , what exite oppsions are they offering these women ?

One question . Does Calgary still require and sell licenses for escorts?
Does Vancouver and Victoria still require and sell licenses?

 

[Poonertime]

You beat me to it MM. This is alarming.

 

[johnsmit]

Of course your right GG
And that's why I asked the questions .Where is the help that so many women need that don't want to be in prostitution. That is still not mentioned.

All so the police no better when it comes to women being killed , weather in every day life or prostitution,very seldom are they assaulted,beaten or killed by clients.Most of this violence is perpetrated by people they know,either aa spouse,boyfriend or ex boyfriend,and that is statistical facts.The resent RCMP report on the highway of tears and the other missing women across Canada,mostly aboriginal,came to the conclusion that many of the missing women were killed by family or those they knew.
And that is common across the board for violence in the community .

 

[*emmanuelle]

I hope they AT THEY VERY LEAST reimburse these women for their transport fees to get to these fake calls!!

I can't even begin to image how mad I would be if I spent and hour and a half getting ready, packing up an outcall bag, and travelling to a hotel only to be met by this!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lenny]

"Where is the help that so many women need that don't want to be in prostitution."

It seems that it was spent on "Operation Northern Spotlight" instead of lotto tickets.

The same amount that wasn't spent on non sex working women on welfare or working minimum wage jobs, 100% of whom don't want to be.

Do many sex workers don't want to be? Perhaps 10% in Vancouver could be said to be coerced into it by their drug addictions etc & 90% of their own free choice.

How many millions have already been spent on saving the former group from their habits & how many were saved?

 

[Man Mountain]

"Where is the help that so many women need that don't want to be in prostitution."

It seems that it was spent on "Operation Northern Spotlight" instead of lotto tickets.

The same amount that wasn't spent on non sex working women on welfare or working minimum wage jobs, 100% of whom don't want to be.

Do many sex workers don't want to be? Perhaps 10% in Vancouver could be said to be coerced into it by their drug addictions etc & 90% of their own free choice.

How many millions have already been spent on saving the former group from their habits & how many were saved?

From the global article posted above:

Investigators say they were also able to ensure the safety of 16 people who had been working in the sex trade as a minor or against their will, including numerous people 16 and under.

The other thing to remember is that Operation Northern Spotlight has been an ongoing operation since before C-36 was actually passed. These most recent news stories are from the fifth "installment" or "phase" of the operation. That Calgary based story is only one of the operations in the wider scope of the operation. Previous reports of the earlier iterations have included reports of officers showing up at incalls. I can't say whether or not that happened during this fifth phase anywhere in the country though.

Anyway, here is one more article that I feel is worth sharing. This one from Winnipeg:

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2016/10/18/northern-spotlight-nabs-exploiters

Northern Spotlight nabs exploiters

BY JIM BENDER, WINNIPEG SUN
FIRST POSTED: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016 06:25 PM CDT

Winnipeg police arrested five people as the result of a week-long human trafficking investigation in a phase of the Operation Northern Spotlight that has been sweeping across North America for five years.

The five in Manitoba were among 32 people facing a total of 78 offences. All five were charged with obtaining sexual services for consideration. The Counter Exploitation Unit (CEU) interviewed a total of 22 women aged between 19 and 44 in areas known to be frequented by sex trade workers, such as hotels and massage parlours, in the city during the investigation.

Police did not identify those who were arrested.

"The five arrested here were exploiters more involved in street prostitution, but not the typical human traffickers," Sgt. Darryl Ramkissoon said Tuesday. "But the media attention this has garnered has sent a message to exploiters."

A total of 54 police services in Canada, the RCMP and the FBI in the United States participated in the most recent phase of the operation.

It is an ongoing investigation into human trafficking involving mainly young women who are participating in the sex trade against their will.

"We've definitely connected them with the resources to either stay safe or exit the trade," Ramkissoon said. "We have helped some of them exit the trade in the past."

None of the women involved in the local investigation were underage.

The vast range of charges laid against the 32 people caught included: exercising control, making child pornography, distributing child pornography, forcible confinement, trafficking in persons, material benefit resulting from trafficking in persons, withholding or destroying documents, living off the avails, assault, uttering threats, obstructing police, and failure to comply with court orders and conditions, including breaches of recognizance and probation, police said.

Anyone with information that might assist investigators with Operation Northern Spotlight is asked to contact the CEU at 204-986-3464 or e-mail WPS-CEU@winnipeg.ca.

 

[westwoody]

The government should pour money into exit options. Financial assistance for education.

Tuition is brutal and many grads have huge debts.
Unfortunately universities are now sources of revenue instead of places for learning.
U of Winnipeg is full of foreign students paying premium tuition to generate cash. Manitobans are educating millionaire's kids from China but can't afford to send their own to university.

Police raids are a simplistic answer to complex problems.
Good chance for them and politicians to pat themselves on the back and get media praise.
What we will NOT hear about is how many of these charges get thrown out or stayed.
No information is given on how many unwilling sex trade workers were actually rescued. Any? Or none?
I bet a couple of full university scholarships for women could have been paid for with the money spent on this operation. Dozens of cops on overtime and double or triple regular pay. Plus police "experts" flying from city to city, staying in nice hotels on expense accounts. Did you know that over two thirds of Winnipeg police make over $100,000 a year, and some over $150,000? Money is no object for police budgets. Winnipeg has had six perfectly good police stations replaced by four fortress style stations in the past few years. Our police headquarters is a hundred MILLION over budget. We have a fancy helicopter that costs millions.
But try getting money for inner city youth, no way, welfare is a drag on the system blah blah blah.
The Ramkissoon quote says it all: this is about sending a message. The details are deliberately vague and may be intentionally misleading. The goal is to look like they are doing something about the issue.

 

[westwoody]

I hope they AT THEY VERY LEAST reimburse these women for their transport fees to get to these fake calls!!

I can't even begin to image how mad I would be if I spent and hour and a half getting ready, packing up an outcall bag, and travelling to a hotel only to be met by this!!!!!!!!!!!!

No money, but they may give you a pamphlet about prostitution.
Because they know so much more about it than someone who actually does it.

 

[Tugela]

I hope they AT THEY VERY LEAST reimburse these women for their transport fees to get to these fake calls!!

I can't even begin to image how mad I would be if I spent and hour and a half getting ready, packing up an outcall bag, and travelling to a hotel only to be met by this!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I imagine they could take the police to small claims court to get paid if they were up to that. After all, what they are doing is not illegal, and the police did solicit their services, so they should be reimbursed for their time.

 

[Tugela]

Tuition is brutal and many grads have huge debts.
Unfortunately universities are now sources of revenue instead of places for learning.
U of Winnipeg is full of foreign students paying premium tuition to generate cash. Manitobans are educating millionaire's kids from China but can't afford to send their own to university.

Um...no they are not. Foreign students are not subsidized.

 

[marsvolta]

funny that these pigs aren't luring loggers, fisherman and roofers with escorts in order to entice them to leave their dangerous jobs!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life...p-10-most-dangerous-jobs-are/article16352517/