Page 50 - 1Proactive Policing

Pro-Active Policing

investigation are to arrest the culprit (if known and present), locate and interview witnesses, and
collect and preserve other evidence.

Reactive cases present themselves to law enforcement through a variety of avenues that require
different types of law enforcement responses. Law enforcement may encounter a potential
trafficking victim in the course of their law enforcement duties. They may arrest a trafficker on

other crimes and encounter victims. They may conduct an enforcement action where they
encounter potential victims of human trafficking.

Some sex trafficking cases are initiated when a street officer arrests or interacts with a person

engaged in prostitution. Labor trafficking cases may also be reactive if a victim escapes and
interacts directly with law enforcement or if a nongovernmental organization (NGO) or Good
Samaritan contacts law enforcement. A raid or sting operation to seize evidence to develop a

prosecutable case may occur in multi-victim sex and labor trafficking cases, in which it is
appropriate to identify and offer services to victims.

Proactive investigation is conducted in response to information on an ongoing criminal activity
obtained through intelligence-gathering or from reports of witnesses. In these situations, there is
no imminent threat to witnesses, meaning that investigators do not have to respond immediately.

Investigators can therefore plan their activities to collect evidence according to operational plans
and resources. In proactive responses, investigators: Can decide where and when to start
investigative operations, Can control the direction of the investigation, Can remain in control of

investigations until the final outcome Proactive investigation is more effective because the
investigators control the investigation. If the investigation is conducted successfully, traffickers will
not know when, how or where they are being investigated.

Instigation:

A criminal investigation can be instigated using either a reactive or proactive approach.
Reactive investigations can start with:

 Reports From The General Public

 Referral By Other Agencies
 Intelligence Links To Other Crimes (Linked Series)

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