Frankfort PD aims to raise human trafficking awareness with community events

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) — On Thursday,  marked National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and to raise awareness, officials are sharing some of the common signs of human trafficking.

Special Victims Unit Detective with the Frankfort Police Department Ricky Lynn, speaking at two different sessions hosted by the Frankfort Police Department.

Lynn says human trafficking happens everywhere even in communities where it’s least expected and it’s much more common and accessible in the state of Kentucky that many might believe.

“If you have a kid and you don’t have parental controls on, you’re letting your kid watch X rated sites. Second of all, if, if you’re a parent take the time, don’t let your kid take a cell phone to bed. We wouldn’t let a stranger in that kid’s bedroom, why are we allowing a stranger to chat with them in their bedroom? With that, know what’s in your kid’s life, know who your kid’s talking to. And that means taking that phone away from your child and looking at the phone and look at everything on the phone. Who are they chatting with? What kind of messaging? What kind of photos are on the phone? Look for apps that look different to you,” says Lynn.

He says over 100 different websites on the regular internet where people are sold in Kentucky and on average there are thousands of ads a day in Kentucky with some of them being consensual but other being coercion.