Griffon Initiative: the RCMP and the SPVM, assisted by the CBSA and many partners, are together against sexual exploitation

June 4, 2018
Montréal, Quebec

News release

Images

A man brings a girl in a hotel room
Police officer comforting a young girl in a hotel room

Again this year, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Montréal Police Service (SPVM), assisted by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and many partners, have taken various actions among Quebec residents, visitors and foreign tourists to counter sexual exploitation.

Thwarting demand for sexual services

Sexual exploitation and human trafficking are current problems in our areas of jurisdiction, and police are dedicating ongoing efforts to face them. Large-scale and internationally-renowned events attract large numbers of visitors to the city and require police services to pay special attention to the demand for sexual services. Authorities would like to remind the public that the purchase of sexual services is a crime at any time. In many cases, the women providing such services are forced to do so. By purchasing sexual services, clients thereby contribute to financing sexual exploitation networks.

This initiative is carried out in partnership with:

  • the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA);
  • the Longueuil Police Service (SPAL);
  • the Laval Police Service (SPL);
  • Aéroports de Montréal;
  • the United States Attorney's Office / Department of Justice (USAO);
  • the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI);
  • the Department of Homeland Security (DHS);
  • the United States Customs and Border Protection (USCBP);
  • the United States Border Patrol (USBP);
  • the United States Diplomatic Security Service (USDSS);
  • the New York State Police (NYSP); and
  • the New York State Intelligence Center (NYSIC).

Griffon Initiative

The Griffon Initiative is an awareness campaign to prevent sexual exploitation. This joint initiative led by the RCMP and the SPVM, with the assistance of many police forces from Quebec, law enforcement authorities from the United States and the Canada Border Services Agency, aims to remind the public that the purchase of sexual services is a crime.

The fight against human trafficking and sexual exploitation

Officers from the RCMP Border Integrity Program conduct investigations, gather intelligence and disrupt international organizations involved in criminal activity including, but not limited to, human trafficking for sexual exploitation. Their aim is to bring traffickers to justice and remove victims from the exploitation of these organizations.

The SPVM has a mandate to combat sexual exploitation in all its forms in its jurisdiction. This includes taking action on fronts such as prevention, investigations and operations. In this regard, the SPVM has also implemented a specialized investigative unit to counter sexual exploitation, as well as a program dubbed Project Survivante.

Project Survivante is a program designed to help victims and raise awareness among police and social workers to provide them with tools to identify individuals at risk.

Appeal to the public

If you have information on sexual exploitation and human trafficking, please contact the RCMP at 1-800-771-5401 or the SPVM, through Info-Crime Montréal, at 514-393-1133. The information provided will remain anonymous and confidential. If a crime is in progress, dial 911.

Who can be a victim of sexual exploitation? Visit the Human Trafficking National Coordination Centre to learn about indicators to help identify an exploited person.

Follow our awareness campaign on social media: #DontBeAnAccomplice

–30–

Contact information

Communications Office
514-939-8308

Date modified: