New York City is expanding its resources, including a hotline for victims or those who suspect a loved one is a victim, to combat sex trafficking, first lady Chirlane McCray and NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill announced on Tuesday. “New Yorkers care for their neighbors. We do not stand by in silence when we see people are hurting,” McCray said. “That is why we are introducing a new hotline today and increasing the number of specially trained officers to address trafficking.” In addition to the dedicated hotline overseen by NYPD, the Vice Unit has been restructured and 25 more detectives have been added.
“Victims in my community, who frequently are undocumented women and/or transgender individuals, are being abused for someone else’s profit,” Chair of the Finance CommitteeJulissa Ferreras Copeland said. “We must protect them from violent and cruel treatment. By adding this hotline and deploying specially-trained officers to combat sex trafficking, we are taking a crucial step towards ending this shameful practice.” Some of the warning signs the NYPD says to watch for include: These efforts are part of a targeted campaign to combat sex trafficking in the city, according to the NYPD.
The NYPD urges New Yorkers who suspect human trafficking to call the NYPD Trafficking Hotline at 646-610-7272.
Sex trafficking: NYC expanding efforts to combat sex crime
NYPD
