The South Bruce OPP has teamed up with the Anti-Human Trafficking Committee and the Bluewater District Board of Education to bring the Recognizing Exploitation, A Syllabus to End Trafficking (RESET) program to Grade 7 and 8 students in Grey and Bruce counties.
Constable Kevin Martin said 13 years old is the most commonly targeted age for trafficking.
"It's deception, it's trickery," he said. "It's 'hey, you look nice, can I buy you stuff?' All these pieces that are so attractive to young people that have no idea they're being recruited into the most disgusting lifestyle they can be recruited into for heavy profits."
The program looks at four key components, taught over four weeks. Those components are risk factors, consent, online safety, and asking for help.
"Here's what to watch out for, here's what's okay, what's not okay," said Martin. "Little things like what's a supportive relationship, mutual respect, whereas an unhealthy relationship could be control, jealousy, abuse."
Martin believes that the only way to get ahead of human trafficking, is to stop it at the recruitment phase.
"I think it's really, really important to educate and empower our students," he said.
Legally, no one under the age of 18 can consent to sex work. Martin pointed out right off the bat, it's illegal activity.
"A trafficker will control every aspect of a person's life," he said. "When they eat, when they sleep, if they eat or sleep, what they wear, who they talk to. The phones provided to victim have a tracking software in them, the trafficker knows exactly where they are at any point in time."
If you see something out of the ordinary that you believe could be human trafficking, Martin urges you to call the police.
"All it takes is one set of eyes on our community to recognize the warning signs, recognize who is a victim, make that connection," Martin said. "Call the police so we can intervene and help the process, get Victim Services engaged, get all of these community resources engaged that help that person leave."
South Bruce OPP also offers community education so residents know the signs. Things like frequent short-term rentals at motels, extreme fatigue, and malnourishment in a person.
"If you make the call and help save someone from human trafficking, there isn't enough I can say, except thank you," Martin said.
