Chatham-Kent Victim Services is putting extra resources into fighting human trafficking.
The group just got a $45,000 cheque from Chatham-Kent Police Services in addition to some provincial funding.
Executive Director Pam Fasullo says human trafficking cases are up and need the extra attention.
"The Ministry of the Attorney General has announced some new project funding for human trafficking for the 2017-2018 fiscal year, and in addition to that they've enhanced the guidelines for the victim quick response program for victims of human trafficking," says Fasullo.
Fasullo says there were 12 human trafficking cases reported locally in 2016, which is an increase from previous years.
Fasullo says she'll have more tools in the tool box to support human trafficking victims. Things like; "financial assistance for tattoo removal, graffiti removal, storage lockers, interpretation services, replacement of government documents, funding for treatment at a recovery facility and transportation to a safe accommodation."
Fasullo says the rise in human trafficking cases is because local OPP officers are better trained to spot victims travelling down the Hwy. 401 corridor.
"As OPP officers are doing traffic stops on the 401, if they're recognizing some of the signs in some of these individuals they're interacting with, certainly they're referring those people to us," Fasullo says.
