Operation Northern Spotlight included undercover sting operations and workplace raids on locations where sex work occurs.
Created by the Durham Regional Police in 2014, this operation involved 62 police agencies at its height in 2018 across Canada.
Further resources:
“Realities of the Anti-Trafficked: How Canada’s Human Trafficking Response Increases Vulnerability for Im/Migrant Sex Workers,” SWAN’s submission to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights on Human Trafficking
Formal calls to police agencies from sex worker groups across Canada to end to the operation:
St. John’s Status of Women Council calls for an end to Operation Northern Spotlight
2017 (National)
Turn Off The Spotlight: Sex workers and allies urge an end to Operation Northern Spotlight
Other Media:
Are Victoria Police Chasing A Sex Trafficking Ring That Doesn’t Exist?
3 July 2020: Times Colonist:
Victoria police’s human-trafficking sting upsets sex workers’ supporters
11 Jan 2019: CASWLR Media Release:
Current Anti-Human Trafficking Initiatives Harm Sex Workers
23 Feb 2018, The Overcast:
Shining a Light on Operation Northern Spotlight
22 Feb 2018, The Appeal:
A National Campaign to Crack Down on Massage Businesses May Harm the Women it Wants to Help
23 Nov 2017, The Uniter:
Sex Workers are Not Illegal – Labour, Labels and the Law
2 Nov 2017, The Independent, Newfoundland & Labrador:
Police need to end Operation Northern Spotlight”
20 Oct 2017, The Telegram:
SHOP wants to turn the spotlight away from sex workers
17 Oct 2017, NTV News:
Advocacy group says police operation against sex trafficking causing problems
16 Oct 2017, CBC News:
Police sex trafficking sting doing more harm than good, N.L. groups say
Why are cops catfishing sex workers in Canada?
6 Jul 2017, The Globe & Mail:
Sex-worker advocates call for end to B.C. police sting operations
6 Jul 2017, Global News Radio/The Lynda Steele & Drex Show:
Operation Northern Spotlight is Negatively Affecting Sex Workers
6 July 2017, The Georgia Straight:
Open letter decries police posing as sex-worker clients in ‘repressive’ Operation Northern Spotlight
Winter 2016/17, Project Muse – World Policy Journal:
It’s Scary for You… It Has to Be
25 Oct 2016, Global Network of Sex Work Projects:
Operation Northern Spotlight Targets Sex Workers in Canada
29 Jan 2014, Global News BC:
Sex worker support group condemns police operation as rights violation
3 Feb 2014, CBC News:
Undercover police ‘dishonest’: Hamilton sex worker advocate says
4 Feb 2014, VICE News:
Canadian Cops Launched a Sting Operation Against Sex Workers Last Month
Police defend the operation:
18 Oct 2018, CBC News:
“Police defend human trafficking sting operation”
18 Oct 2018, The Telegram:
“RNC defends Operation Northern Spotlight”
19 Oct 2017, National Post:
“Police defend national undercover operation aimed at sex-trade victims”