As part of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month, Metro is reminding the public how to help potential victims. Human trafficking is the trade of humans for the purpose of forced labor, sexual slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation for the trafficker or others.
To put it more bluntly, human trafficking is a heinous crime and victims are often transported on buses and trains in the United States. Almost one million people — mostly young girls — are trafficked against their will each year.
A person, including young women, may be a victim of trafficking if she:
- Looks fearful or depressed, and is not on her own
- Is being closely watched
- Does not have possession of her paperwork or money
- Shows signs of physical abuse
Please help us assist those in need. If you have reason to believe someone might be a victim of human trafficking, please call 888.950.SAFE.
In the past three yeas, there have been no human trafficking incidences reported by any of our three police departments (LASD, LAPD, Long Beach PD). However, we are also remain mindful that human trafficking requires identification that such an incident is taking place and a lack of reporting or prosecution does not entirely mean that L.A. County is free from Human Trafficking incidences on public transit.
Metro law enforcement contractors receive Human Trafficking awareness training. All employees at Metro, including bus and rail operators, are trained and educated on how to report suspected human trafficking and help victims who want to make a report. Operators who travel daily through the main trafficking hubs are aware of the signs that someone may be in need of rescue.
Categories: Go Metro, Policy & Funding