Criminals increasingly use online adult service websites to reach larger audiences with less risk, making digital tools like STIM essential for law enforcement to respond effectively.

Compared to manual review of thousands of ads, STIM provides a quicker, more efficient risk assessment process, addressing the challenges of digital age law enforcement.

The primary challenge addressed by STIM is differentiating between genuine sex worker profiles and traffickers’ ads, which is crucial for effective intervention.

STIM helps law enforcement by analyzing online advertisements—examining photographs, language, and details—to distinguish traffickers from legitimate sex workers and assign risk levels such as low, medium, or high.

The Sexual Trafficking Identification Matrix (STIM), an innovative analytical tool developed to identify potential victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, has been adopted by 16 police forces in the UK, along with international organizations, including four abroad and the Danish Centre Against Human Trafficking.

While the tool relies on human judgment for final assessments, it significantly accelerates initial screening, allowing organizations to reach vulnerable individuals more swiftly and efficiently.

Developed collaboratively by Dr. Xavier L’Hoiry from the University of Sheffield and international partners, STIM analyzes elements such as photographs, language, and details to rate the risk level of online ads.

The development of STIM involved collaboration with universities, law enforcement, charities, and NGOs across multiple countries, reflecting a broad effort to combat human trafficking globally.

Dr. L’Hoiry envisions widespread adoption of STIM across UK police forces, charities, and international organizations to enhance victim identification and support efforts worldwide.

Thames Valley Police’s Detective Inspector Ben Henley highlighted that STIM has been instrumental in identifying high-risk individuals who rarely come forward, leading to arrests and safeguarding efforts.

STIM streamlines the risk assessment process, reducing manual workload and enabling quicker intervention by law enforcement and related organizations.

The tool’s adoption by 16 UK police forces, two UK charities, and international entities demonstrates its growing influence in the fight against human trafficking.