Manitoba

Project Return sweeps streets for youth at risk of sexual exploitation

Seven at-risk youth were found and one person was arrested during a Winnipeg police crackdown on the sexual exploitation of youth.
As part of Project Return, Winnipeg police checked 57 locations known to be frequented by high-risk missing youth. (CBC)

Seven at-risk youth were found and one person was arrested during a Winnipeg police crackdown on the sexual exploitation of youth.

The police service's Counter Exploitation Unit and Missing Persons Unit, in partnership with Street Reach — an agency tasked with trying to find and take high-risk kids off the streets — conducted the sweep, called Project Return, on May 8-9.

A total of 57 locations known to be frequented by high-risk missing youth were checked.

One male was arrested for purchasing sexual services and seven youth were found and transported to places of safety, police said.

One of the missing youth was arrested for breach of probation.