b'A PEOPLE-FIRST RESPONSE, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT TRAUMA-INFORMEDAND VICTIM-CENTRED RESPONSES MUST BE INTEGRATED WITH OPERATIONS,IS ESSENTIAL TO MODERN POLICING.people working in it are properly trained on how toIJFSstaffincludeacivilianvictimspecialistwho treat everyone fairly, and that the needs of victims areacknowledgestheimportanceofassistingandunder-recognized and respected.2standing the needs of victims and survivors. This reflects a cultural shift of re-focused priorities that recognizes justice Bearingthisinmind,thisarticleconsidersthecan mean different things to many people. Historically, culturalshiftthatistakingplacewithintheOntariosuccess was measured by the number of successful pros-Provincial Police (OPP) to support the operational valueecutions. However, safe justice (policing with empathy ofevidence-basedpolicydevelopmentwithintheand a people-first approach) values and understands the Anti-HumanTraffickingUnit,whileassistingwith,andimportance of helping victims and survivors. Safe policing understanding the rights of, victims and survivors. Theprovides them with the knowledge, access to supports OPPsAnti-HumanTraffickingUnit,inconjunctionwithand tools to leave their situation, should they choose to the OPP Victim Specialist Pilot Program, are incorporatingdo so. atrauma-informed,victim-centredapproachintotheirThe operational value of this integrated approach is in investigative response. the improved societal outcomes versus the historic meas-Background to the Programurementofoutputsandactivities.Simplyput,victims To combat the growing problem of child sexual exploit- leaving human trafficking is a more important outcome ation in Ontario, the Government of Ontario is investingfor community safety and well-being than the number of arrests made in a year. Driving these improved societal $307 million from 2020 to 2025 on a new anti-humanoutcomesisthevictimspecialistsdedicatedattention trafficking strategy. Ontarios plan represents the largesttoprovidingvictimsaccesstosupportforhousing, totalinvestmentindedicatedanti-humantraffickingchildcare, dental care, legal services, financial supports, supports and services in Canada. The proactive approachemployment,educationassistanceand,perhapsmost focuses on four actions across government: importantly,helpingthemconnectwithacommun-raising awareness of the issue;ity-survivor, peer-support network. protection of victims and early intervention;The Victim Specialist Pilot Program supporting survivors; andThe OPP Victim Specialist Pilot Program is available in six detachments across Ontario, as well as in the Anti-Human holding offenders accountable.3 Trafficking Units in the northwest, northeast, west, and One of the initiatives under the government action ofcentral regions. The program supports front-line mem-holding offenders accountable is the establishment of abers cases in the detachments where they are located, in new intelligence-led joint forces investigations strategyaddition to supporting investigations within the Criminal team (IJFS) with officers and analysts from First NationsInvestigation Branch and the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit. The pilot program is taking place for a period of one year. policeservices,municipalpoliceservicesandtheOPP Anti-Human Trafficking Unit.This 21-agency collaborationThe OPP identified two international examples where proactively conducts intelligence gathering and analysis,police supported and assisted victims and survivors during initiates investigations, disrupts human trafficking groups andassistsintheprosecutionsofmulti-jurisdictional2Progress Report: The Canadian Victims Bill of Rights, Office of thehuman-trafficking organizations across Ontario. In addi- Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crimetion to the investigative and intelligence activities, the(November 2020) available at https://IJFSintegratestheeducationandprotectionofvictims3 www.victimsfirst.gc.ca/res/pub/prcvbr-reccdv/index.html.Retrieved from https://www.ontario.ca/page/ with an eye to early intervention and survivor support. ontarios-anti-human-trafficking-strategy-2020-2025. The Official Publication of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police27'