New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery that occurs in all 50 states and is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world.
Human trafficking is defined as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.”
The average age of entry into the sex trade is 15-years old for females and even younger for males. 44% of victims reported that no one reached out and offered help and another 26% reported ever being offered help. There is no specific profile of a buyer. Buyers come from all backgrounds, races, ages and work forces.
Find out more including statistics here.
“The New Bedford Police Department will be raising awareness for #HumanTraffickingAwarenessMonth. Across the nation, law enforcement and organizations strive to eliminate human trafficking.
If you are a victim of human trafficking, or if you have a tip about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” or “INFO” to BeFree (233733).
You can also always call 911 – we are here to help. If you see something, say something. #humantraffickingawareness?” -City of New Bedford Police Department.
