SAN FRANCISCO—On Tuesday, November 12, the San Francisco Police Department revealed the launch of the “Dear John” program, the latest in a series of efforts to crack down on prostitution and human trafficking in the city’s Mission District and other neighborhoods, Chief Bill Scott announced Tuesday.
SFPD started sending letters and pictures, to the addresses of registered vehicles seen and captured on camera soliciting prostitution along Shotwell Street and surrounding streets. The letters are designed to serve as a deterrent to individuals purchasing sex as part of the SFPD’s commitment to reducing prostitution and human trafficking in the region.
Anyone interested can go to www.sanfranciscopolice.org/prostitution to report prostitution activity and help stop human trafficking.
“Our residents deserve safe communities free from criminal activity,” said Chief Scott. “This new program will make sure people soliciting prostitution will no longer have the anonymity they desire when engaging in this behavior.”
The SFPD recently installed new mobile security units on Shotwell Street and worked with SFMTA to install bollards to reduce traffic along the corridor.
Police officers work closely with advocacy partners to identify trafficking victims and connect them with essential services. The Special Victims Unit actively encourages victims to participate in investigations, aiding in the building of strong cases to hold traffickers accountable.
The Police Department has partnerships with community-based organizations to provide victims support, including counseling, legal assistance, and safe housing. The SFPD collaborates with local, state, and federal partners to address human trafficking on multiple fronts, ensuring a coordinated response to the issue.
