Police defend human trafficking sting operation

Police say they are listening to critics who believean operation that targets humantrafficking is dishonest anddistressingfor sex workers but the RCMPexpects it to continue next year.

"Yes, I think so, because we have been seeing some success," said St. John's RCMPConst. Colleen Noble.

"But it will be done in consultation with the people who are opposed to it and have been issuing news releases and letters against the project."

Aims to help sex workers

Police say Operation Northern Spotlight aims to help sex workers who may be victims of human trafficking.

They argue that the undercover operation, done in co-operation with police forces across the country since 2014, has made a positive difference, leading to 14 arrests and 21 chargesincluding trafficking in persons in 2017.

We have been seeing some success.- Colleen Noble

"This year, with the support of community outreach and social workers, police interviewed324individuals believed to be at-risk and removed six, including two under the age of18, from exploitive situations," the RCMPsaid in a news release Wednesday.

This monththe St. John's-based Safe Harbour Outreach Project and the St. John's Status of Women's Counciladded their voices to a chorus of national groups calling for an end to the sting operation.

"It is damaging relationships in our community and creating situations where violence will actually increase," HeatherJarvis, project co-ordinator for SHOP, told CBC News.

• Police sex trafficking sting doing more harm than good, N.L. groups say

• Undercover police 'dishonest': Hamilton sex worker advocate says

Police posing as clients

According to Jarvis, Operation Northern Spotlight involves police officers posing as potential clients, and setting up meetings with sex workers.

"They come to a hotel room expecting to meet a client and expecting to gain income from this encounter, and instead are met with a team of police officers who question them. They feel very condescended to, they feel incredibly frightened. They're very worried about being arrested and put in jail."

Noble didn't contradict what sex workers told SHOP.

"RCMPpolicy is that I don't discuss the exact techniques used in any investigation that we do but I can say that I won't dispute anything that has been said by any other organizations or agencies," she said.

All individuals are treated with the utmost respect.- Royal Newfoundland Constabulary statement

But Noble emphasized that police are trying to help vulnerable people rather thanarrest thosewho willingly engage in sex work.

"The people who are being trafficked and are really, really vulnerable in an abusive, violent situation those are the ones that we are trying to reach and if somebody tells us that is not their situation we might ask them a few questions to make sure they are safe and they go on their way."

Sex workers treated with respect

In St. John's the RCMPcarries out Operation Northern Spotlight in conjunction with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.

"All individuals are treated with the utmost respect and are advised that they are able to leave at any time," the RNC said in a statement.

"The intention of this tactic is to identify cases of human trafficking and sexual exploitation by interviewing those involved directly in the sex trade industry," the statement said. "A great amount of intelligence has been gathered about those who are sexually exploiting individuals."

The RNC saidsex workershave given the police force positive feedback about the sting operation.

"Individuals officers have spoken with are typically very receptive to this operation as they realize that the intention is not to criminalize their work, but rather to make sure that they are safe."

Like the RCMP, the RNC says it wants to work with SHOPand theSt. John's Status of Women's Council

"We are committed to continuing to work closely with our community partners."