Human Trafficking

Join us as Detective Constable Mark MacDonnell and Detective Constable Brian Urquhart of the Peterborough Police Services Human Trafficking Unit update us on human trafficking in Peterborough and area.

DC MacDonell and Urquhart received commendations for their work on Project Terrain which was initiated in January 2021 after they conducted a “knock and talk” intervention with an advertised female sex worker in the City of Peterborough to ensure her safety.  During the conversation evidence came to light that led the officers to believe the female was the victim of human trafficking and started a larger investigation that ultimately identified multiple victims, and suspects, associated to a sophisticated organized crime ring involved in the trafficking of Chinese females across Canada.

A province-wide takedown in June 2021 involved input from a number of law enforcement agencies across Ontario, including Canada Border Services Agency, York Regional Police Service, Durham Regional Police Service, Waterloo Regional Police Service, and the Ontario Provincial Police. As a result, officers discovered and identified 4 victims of human trafficking, and were able to make supporting referrals to various agencies to each and arrested 3 accused persons, and laid numerous human trafficking related charges.

This is an in person meeting but will also be available via Zoom at:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82832051360?pwd=LzRYcGZsTjYrUk5BYTd1WHYySWpKdz09