Weekend blitz finds 7 at-risk youth in Winnipeg
Officers and outreach workers helped dozens of at-risk people during a weekend blitz that also included the arrest of seven johns, Winnipeg police say.
The Winnipeg Police Service counter-exploitation and missing persons unit partnered with StreetReach, the Winnipeg Outreach Network, Resources Assistance for Youth (RAY) and the Bear Clan Patrol for a special project from March 16-18 "with the aim of protecting youth within our city who are at a high risk of being sexually exploited," police said.
During the weekend, police saw:
- Seven men, age 40-60, arrested for purchasing sexual services.
- 72 contacts made to help those involved in the sex trade.
- 42 people given harm-reduction kits, food and/or clothing.
- 80 locations known to be frequented by high-risk missing youth checked.
- Seven at-risk youth located and taken to a place of safety. Two of them were arrested for an outstanding warrant and failing to comply with a sentence.
- Five vehicles seized under Highway Traffic Act offences.
Police said the sweep was part of a larger initiative called Project Return.