Peel Partners Strengthen Anti‑trafficking Support for Survivors
Peel Regional Police joined community partners during Victims and Survivors of Crime Week to highlight expanded, coordinated supports for victims and survivors of human trafficking across Peel Region.
The effort includes the expansion of nCourage, with the launch of a new hub at Toronto Pearson International Airport and enhanced service delivery in Brampton and surrounding area.
“Many victims are youth, often recruited as young as 11 years old, and many cases go unreported. That’s why partnerships like nCourage are not just important, they are essential,” said David Kennedy, Peel Regional Police Staff Superintendent.
Why Human Trafficking Is a Local Priority
Human trafficking is one of the most urgent and complex public safety challenges in Peel Region. It is often hidden and frequently targets the most vulnerable. Geography plays a key role. Peel’s proximity to major highways, urban centres, and international transit hubs like Pearson Airport makes the region a significant corridor for trafficking activity.
Nationally, 62 per cent of reported human trafficking cases originate in the Greater Toronto Area, placing Peel Regional Police’s Airport Division at the forefront of disruption and early intervention within this major transportation corridor.
@PeelPolice is proud to stand alongside nCourage, community partners to expand supports across the Region for victims and survivors of human sex trafficking… pic.twitter.com/amycQ9C0sA
— Peel Regional Police (@PeelPolice) May 11, 2026
A Coordinated, Regional Response
The expanded nCourage model is led by Peel Children’s Aid Society and supported by Peel Regional Police and other community partners.
The addition of Victim Services of Peel and Caledon/Dufferin Victim Services further strengthens a coordinated, wraparound approach focused on prevention, intervention, and survivor support.
Beyond Enforcement: Advocacy and System Reform
“Policing alone cannot solve human trafficking. Enforcement is only one part of the response,” Kennedy said.
How to Better Support Victims and Survivors
The symposium produced recommendations that closely align with Peel Regional Police human trafficking efforts, including:
- Expand access to trauma-informed counselling and legal supports
- Remove systemic barriers that prevent victims from coming forward like fear of criminalization, lack of safe housing and language barriers.
- Prioritize victim safety in bail and release decisions
- Strengthen bail compliance monitoring and enforcement
- Advocate for Criminal Code reforms targeting:
- Repeat violent offenders
- Gender based violence
Together, Peel Regional Police and community partners remain committed to prevention, disruption, and survivor centred supports to confront human trafficking and protect the most vulnerable across Peel Region.
