Williams Lake, B.C. – Human trafficking will be the topic of discussion at an information session at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in Williams Lake tonight.

“Over the past we have had issues with human trafficking and when I talk about human trafficking that’s both forced labour and the sex trade,” says Dave Dickson, community safety coordinator with the City of Williams Lake and the Williams Lake RCMP.

“We just feel that we would be totally remiss as a safety team in the community if we didn’t inform and try and educate the people of Williams Lake that hey, there is a problem.”

He says the issue involves the recruitment, transportation and harbouring of people for the purpose of exploitation, which can include various methods to control victims such as force, sexual assault, and threats of violence.

Just how big is the issue in Williams Lake?

“I wouldn’t say it’s a big issue but it’s undoubtedly an issue,” says Dickson. “To what magnitude I’m not totally sure but it’s something that we know from the police office that we have had people involved in this.”

He says a typical case might involve a young person moving down to the streets of Vancouver.

“And when they arrive down there’s it’s only within a short time that they are involved in the sex trade and of course there’s drug complications with that too.”

Dickson says Corporal Jassy Bindra of ‘E’ Division and RCMP Constable Sharon Peters will be the keynote speakers, giving an update on activities that have been happening throughout the province and in Williams Lake.

He says admission is free and it starts in the TRU cafeteria at 7:00pm.