Human Trafficking Awareness

In 2025, the Durham Regional Police Services Human Trafficking Unit investigated 231 incidents involving elements of human trafficking. Of those, 192 individuals — 87 of them under 18 — were assisted or provided services due to their involvement in, or risk of involvement in, trafficking-related activity.

Human trafficking is the fastest-growing crime in Canada, and it is happening in Durham Region — in hotels throughout the region, not far from schools and places where youth gather. The Durham Region Human Trafficking Coalition maintains StopHT.com to help victims and potential victims find local support.

A specialized CARE Unit (Children at Risk of Exploitation) pairs child protection workers with police officers to identify and support children in the sex trafficking industry, connect victims and families with services, and hold traffickers accountable. According to national data, the average age of recruitment into sex trafficking in Canada is 13.