Wk 4 Compare the different law enforcement tactics to combat human Essay - 1

Wk 4 Compare the different law enforcement tactics to combat human trafficking. Is law enforcement criminal intelligence sharing and cooperation on human trafficking working - Essay Example (Simon p1) The question posed is whether the different law enforcement tactics to combat human trafficking including criminal intelligence sharing and cooperation is working. I would say that based on the research in the 2 articles provided it is working at least to the extent of slowing down the rate of increase of human trafficking incidents if not actually decreasing them. Some of the causes of human trafficking are beyond the direct control of law enforcement such as poverty, political and/or social inequalities, natural disasters like Katrina and political influences. Also the extent of human trafficking is difficult to quantify due to the reluctance of victims to alert law enforcement even if they can for fear of deportation and/or retribution from the traffickers. The 2 articles provided address the issue of US human trafficking in different ways. Simon discusses effective policing whereas Hepburn et al focuses on advances in legislation. Simon’s methodology is to survey Florida police departments and non government social service organizations (NGOs) to assess their policies for fighting human trafficking. He notes that proactive community policing has proven more effective than traditional reactive policing in fighting crimes such as human trafficking. This involves officers interacting with members of immigrant communities, preferably in their own language, and NGOs catering to them to gain intelligence about suspected trafficking operations. Also since prosecutions are pursued federally there must be cooperation between the 2 levels to ensure local police identify and stop the crime, manage victims and protect evidence to ensure prosecutions are effective. Police officers must be trained not only in the law but also how to deal empathetically with fearful victims. On the other hand, the Hepburn et al article outlines developments in