Exploited for sex: NYPD increasing sex trafficking monitoring amid World Cup matches
NEW YORK (WABC) -- With more than a half dozen World Cup matches happening in the Tri-State, it's expected to draw in more than a million tourists from around the world.
It's also expected to draw an increase in sex trafficking. It's the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of commercial sex act.
The NYPD says it has been preparing behind the scenes for months help prevent it.
"People are going to be looking to exploit," said Kathleen Bear, the NYPD's Asst. Commissioner for Gender-Based Violence Policy and Planning. "There are people here, tourists from all over the world, they're going to be looking to purchase sexual acts for money and pimps and traffickers are here to exploit them."
The NYPD says it has increased online monitoring, where pimps and traffickers often advertise, and they've stepped up patrols in busy areas.
"We're monitoring online, we're monitoring hot spots, Port Authority bus terminals, anywhere where there's an influx of people or something we're going to focus on," said Lt. Christopher Zizza of the NYPD's human trafficking squad.
The NYPD is handing out fliers and information to hotspots like hotels and businesses about how to spot someone being trafficked.
They include looking out for signs of injury, malnutrition, branding and insufficient clothing.
Also, behavioral signs, like if they defer to someone else to speak for them or to answer simple questions.
The officers say labor trafficking is an issue in the New York City area as well.
The number of the NYPD's human trafficking hotline is 646-610-7272.
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