The police need to change their approach to handling sexual abuse and human trafficking, according to Merel van Groningen, experience expert and counselor for loverboy victims. Fewer and fewer underage victims come forward because of the police's attitude, she said to the Telegraaf.
"I know of cases of minor loverboy victims who were told by a detective: 'but it was your own fault'. You've lost such a victim", Van Groningen said.
Over 6 thousand people, mostly women, are annually exploited for prostitution or webcam sex in the Netherlands, according to a new report by National Rapporteur on Human Trafficking Corinne Dettmeijer. With that, the number of human trafficking victims in the country is five times higher than assumed, RTL Nieuws reports.
Criminals involved at least three school pupils in Den Bosh in prostitution and drug trading, mayor Ton Rombouts said in response to questions from PvdA city councilor Lisette van der Swaluw. The mayor believes that more kids may have been approached to become involve in illegal activities, but they wont come forward out of shame or fear for those who approached them, the Gelderlander reports.
The police and various healthcare institutions in Amsterdam are teaming up to help the victims of so-called loverboys by giving then psychological and legal aid. The goal is to make the police more accessible to girls who want to get out of the clutches of their "loverboy," a reference to specific types of pimps, Het Parool reports.
Anonymous crime hotline Meld Misdaad Anoniem launched a new campaign against forced prostitution, loverboys and other forms of human trafficking on Tuesday. It is aimed at clients and aid givers who work with minors or mentally disabled people
At least 76 women and underage girls with mental disabilities were recruited for prostitution in the Netherlands over the past two years while residents of institutions for people with lower intellectual capabilities. A new investigation into the growing trend will be broadcast in the Dutch-language program, “Dit is de Dag Onderzoek,” Saturday at 9:15 pm on NPO 2.
The Public Prosecutor demanded a 2 year prison sentence against Armin A., suspected of pimping a 16 year old girl to as many as 80 men in Limburg, in the Maastricht court on Monday.
The man suspected of pimping a 16 year old girl to as many as 80 men in Limburg was remanded into custody today. The court in Maastricht called the suspect, Armin A., both a flight risk and at risk of committing the crime again, according to Hart van Nederland.
The Public Prosecutor has significantly reduced the charges against Armin A., the prime suspect in the Valkenburg underage prostitution case.
