Hub police put out word: Buying sex can cost you big
The Boston Police Department will be stepping up its campaign targeting online sex trade customers with Facebook ads, with a new increased grant from an advocacy group.
The BPD is set to receive a $41,000 grant from Cambridge-based Demand Abolition, which awarded the department a $30,000 grant to fight the sex trade last year. The grants are coming as part of Boston’s CEASE initiative, which is attempting to cut online demand for sex trafficking.
Using targeted internet ads as a way of curbing online sex trafficking is intended to hit potential johns with the consequences of their behavior, an advocate said, making them realize the damage they’re causing.
“It’s been normalized and accepted through internet access, without having to leave their home, with the click of a button they can buy somebody,” said Cherie Jimenez, founder of antisex-trafficking group The EVA Center. “This shifts people, gets people to think about this.
“We want to see this shift and this is a great tool to use,” Jimenez said.
The second round of funding comes during an increased push from state and local officials to crack down on the internet-based sex trade that has expanded to all corners of the state.
A Herald roundtable held Monday of law enforcement officials, advocates and survivors, moderated by Attorney General Maura Healey, described sex trafficking as worse than ever, but officials have been cracking down as well. The AG’s office recently charged 29 alleged sex buyers from Barnstable to Northampton in a series of stings designed to target johns.
And johns are the focus of the BPD’s initiative as well. Lt. Michael McCarthy said police used the first round of funding to work with Demand Abolition to create a profile of potential buyers — 18- to 64-yearold men within 25 miles of Boston browsing online between 2 and 3 p.m. — and target a Facebook ad to those people.
The ad shows a man in a prison cell with the text “Think buying sex is cheap? It can cost you everything” and links to a BPD website with information about penalties for people charged in sex trafficking and links for sexual addiction treatment. McCarthy said police believe the ad was effective and that police would use the new round of funds to create video ads for Facebook as well.
“The use of social media is an effective way to deliver targeted messages which amplify the risk to current and would-be buyers by putting them on notice that this illegal and harmful activity will not be tolerated and that law enforcement is on the lookout for offenders,” said Dhakir Warren, director of network learning and engagement for Demand Abolition. “This also allows us to raise awareness, among the general population of men, to the harm and consequences associated with purchasing individuals for sex.”