Police locate 11 missing at-risk teens from sexual exploitation

Winnipeg Police are teaming up with other outreach organizations for Project Return, which helps locate the many missing persons and at-risk youth.

In 2020, the Winnipeg Police Service received almost 5,000 missing person reports, with an average of 566 reports a month. 

As Constable Rachel Vertone says about the project, "It's a collaborative effort with Winnipeg Police and our non-government agencies."

Those collaborating include StreetReach, Winnipeg Outreach Network (WON) Ndinawe, Mama Wi Chi Itata, Resource Assistance for Youth (RAY) and the Salvation Army.

"The point of it is to locate missing persons or 'at-risk' youth to make sure that they're not being exploited."

Cst. Vertone has been working with Winnipeg Police for nine years now. Although the number of missing persons seems high, it's not any different from previous years.  

"In 2018 we were around the 5,600 mark. We were around the 5,500 mark, and this year we're up in the same numbers. It's not something the public knows but it's very common."

There are a variety of reasons that people go missing.

"It's anything from, somebody leaving their group home or they're reported missing because they missed a curfew but they've returned later on in the evening. Anything from that to people who are missing for multiple days or people who unfortunately don't ever come back."

For a missing person alert, Winnipeg Police are initially contacted. Whether it makes it to a media release is all on a case-by-case basis. 

"We're typically contacted by one of the outside agencies that we deal with, like CFS or a group home, or someone who cares that a person is missing. It goes to our Missing Persons Unit, and they determine the risk that the person has."

Working together, Project Return and the organizations behind it has resulted in:

• 11 missing at-risk youths and two missing adults were located and transported to a place of safety
• 44 locations known to be frequented by high risk missing youths were checked and continue to be checked
• 15 Crime Prevention through Social Development (CPTSD) contacts were made to identify and assist those involved in sexual exploitation
• 57 Outreach Approaches conducted to determine if any assistance was required
• 45 individuals were provided with snack packs and harm reduction kits for people experiencing homelessness or on the street often
• Two individuals arrested for outstanding warrants
• Eight males ranging in age from 26-56 years old were arrested for Obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration.
• Seven vehicles were seized under the Highway Traffic Act for Prostitution offences.

"You get to know people who live on the streets and develop relationships with them. The partnerships that we have with the outreach community, they provide snack packs and harm reduction kits. They go around and have them on hand for anybody that needs," says Cst. Vertone.

Project Return was actually created in 2011 and typically it runs each quarter. Due to the pandemic, the Winnipeg Police Service along with their partners haven't been able to start Project Return this year until September 18.