Crimestoppers Bring Human Trafficking Awareness With New Transport Truck Wrap

To bring human trafficking awareness to the city, Peterborough Northumberland Crime Stoppers has unveiled a new truck wrap at the Ontario Truck Training Academy on Wednesday afternoon.

The truck wrap stretches along 53 feet and is the same design on both sides. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Dave’s Towing & Recovery also sponsored it with Crimestoppers with the work by Big Rig Wraps. The truck is part of the Ontario Truck Training Academy.

From 2011 to 2021, Peterborough was the third-highest in the country, with 3.6 human trafficking incidents per 100,000 people. They trailed Thunder Bay and Halifax with 5.5 and 4.5, respectively, according to Statistics Canada.

Their data also showed that Peterborough jumped to 10.9 cases in 2021, only trailing Thunder Bay with 28.1.

“It is a problem that people aren't aware of and we wanted to make sure we're starting discussions,” said Alison Dyer, Intelligence-led Joint Forces Strategy (IJFS) detective constable of human trafficking. “We need people to see the sign, ask the questions, talk to other people, educate themselves, educate their children, etc.”

The wrap is the 26th truck that Big Rig Wraps has done nationally regarding human trafficking awareness. Photo by David Tuan bui.

While anyone can be susceptible to human trafficking, those who are more vulnerable and aged 13-25 are more likely to be victimized, according to Dyer.

“You have human labour trafficking, you have immigrants coming in and they're being forced to work for less wages,” she explained. “Then there are those that can romance someone like they're grooming them and then the end result is you have a girl working in the sex trade, whether by force, coercion or exercising control over them.”

Dyer says that noticing the signs is key to being able to determine if your children are involved in trafficking.

“If all of a sudden, your child is coming home with all of these purses, new clothing or they're hanging out with new people, start asking questions and start having the conversation,” she said.

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