Law enforcement and prosecutors from North Carolina participated in a Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers’ (FLETC) Human Trafficking Awareness Training (HTAT) last week in Charlotte and Wilmington.
In Charlotte, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department hosted the training. Twenty-two state and local officers from nine different agencies received the training. In Wilmington, the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office hosted the training. Forty-two state and local officers from fifteen different agencies attended this training. Congressional staff from the North Carolina delegation also participated in these trainings.
The HTAT program provides law enforcement with an in-depth understanding of the crime of human trafficking and highlights many of the primary indicators they may encounter throughout their shifts. The training consists of instruction, case studies, videos, and discussions to enhance the learning experience.
The trainings included panels of federal, state, and local human trafficking subject matter experts, including representatives from the North Carolina State Attorney’s Office, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the local Police Human Trafficking Task Force, and local victim advocate groups. This part of the instruction introduced law enforcement to North Carolina-based resources they can call on to assist with suspected human-trafficking situations.
FLETC began developing training on the signs and indicators of human trafficking in late 2009. In 2015, FLETC began incorporating human-trafficking awareness training into its basic programs for all new federal law enforcement officers and agents. In 2019, FLETC completed the development of its introductory HTAT program.
A component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FLETC provides career-long training to law enforcement professionals to help them fulfill their responsibilities safely and proficiently. Through strategic partnerships, FLETC prepares the federal law enforcement community to safeguard the American people, property, and institutions.
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