Seattle Police Human Trafficking Unit Make Arrests Along Aurora Corridor
Detectives with the Human Trafficking Unit partnered with patrol officers, detectives, and the Community Response Group (CRG) to proactively address prostitution solicitation along Aurora Avenue North.
On October 6th, more than twenty Seattle Police personnel deployed to the Aurora Avenue corridor in response to community concerns and a high level of prostitution related activity. During these operations, a suspect or “buyer” agrees or offers to engage in sexual acts in exchange for money.
The operation resulted in seven men arrested for prostitution loitering and patronizing. The men ranged in age from 22-years-old to 64-years-old, with the majority being in their twenties. Only three of the men lived in Seattle, with several of them driving from surrounding cities to Aurora Avenue.
Human Trafficking is defined as:
- Using force, fraud, or coercion to compel someone to perform labor (such as factory work, in restaurants, hotels, construction, and as domestic servants) or engage in a commercial sex act
- the commercial sexual exploitation of a minor
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these things, please know that there are resources available to you and dedicated Seattle Police detectives working to investigate these crimes. You can learn more about the SPD Human Trafficking Detail here.
Human Trafficking Contacts
For emergency situations, call 911
Seattle Police Department Vice High Risk Victims Unit – (206) 684-8660 or (206) 386-1114
To refer a human-trafficking related matter for investigation or for information about WashACT
Washington Anti-Trafficking Response Network (WARN) – (206) 245-0782.
Seattle area victim outreach, services and program information
Seattle Victim Outreach, services for WARN or WashAct – (206) 623-2105
National Human Trafficking Resource Center’s 24-hour hotline – 1-888-373-7888
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in more than 200 languages
The Seattle Police Department has also implemented Trauma-Informed Engagement training to all SPD members as part of their yearly curriculum. The training builds communication skills so that officers can prevent causing more harm when a victim decides to share their story and that perpetrators of harm can be held more accountable. When police utilize trauma-informed engagement it allows victims and witnesses to build resiliency, trust, and participation in investigations.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
