On Friday June 28, 2019 Winnipeg Police and community outreach workers came together in a one-day project known as ‘Project Return’ to find missing youth at risk of being sexually exploited.
Police say that in 2018 7361 people went missing in Winnipeg. On average the Missing Person’s Unit receives 600 reports of missing persons each month.
On Friday June 28th there were 74 youths under the age of 18 who were currently reported missing.
Police and partner agencies checked 28 locations in the city that high risk missing youth are known to go to. Eight youth who had been reported missing were located and taken to a safe location.
Project members also made 18 Crime Prevention through Social Development contacts identifying and helping those involved in sexual exploitation.
In April Project Return found 21 missing youth at risk of sexual exploitation as well as arrested seven men for Obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration.
Project Return is an ongoing initiative between Winnipeg Police, StreetReach, Winnipeg Outreach Network (WON), All Nations Coordinated Response (ANCR), and the Bear Clan Patrol Inc.