Missouri – Missouri is moving early to strengthen its fight against human trafficking before one of the world’s largest sporting events brings a surge of visitors to the Kansas City region.
Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced a statewide partnership with Safe House Project to launch Simply Report, a free reporting tool designed to help Missourians share suspected human trafficking information more safely and more directly. The platform sends actionable intelligence into secure law enforcement dashboards that agencies across Missouri can access in real time.
“Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we are unifying our efforts so survivors of human trafficking can be heard, responders can coordinate quickly, and our state can act with urgency and precision to protect the public,” Hanaway said.
“Protecting victims and preventing exploitation are core public safety responsibilities of my office, and we will use every tool available to catch traffickers and hold them accountable. Victims deserve systems that work as hard as they do to survive. Statewide access to Simply Report puts victims first, makes reporting safer and easier, and gives Missourians a way to help stop these horrific crimes.”
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The launch comes with a clear purpose. Large international events have historically been linked to increased trafficking activity, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to bring an unprecedented flow of people through the Kansas City area. Missouri officials say the goal is to build the reporting and response system before that surge arrives, not after.
Simply Report is available statewide and supports more than 200 languages. It uses an AI-powered behavioral intelligence matrix with more than 700 trafficking indicators. When someone submits a report, the platform screens the information, assesses risk, and routes useful tips to law enforcement. Victims can also be connected directly with Safe House Project’s national Survivor Support Team and its certified safe home network for immediate placement and long-term support.
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Safe House Project leaders say the tool addresses a deeper problem in trafficking response. The national trafficking identification rate is estimated at about 1 percent, while human trafficking is described as a $99 billion criminal enterprise. The organization says the issue is not only awareness, but broken infrastructure.
“Missouri is leading, and Missouri is not leading alone. That is the point,” said Kristi Wells, CEO and Co-Founder of Safe House Project. “When a Missourian sees something, they now have a way to act on it. When law enforcement needs intelligence, Simply Report puts it in their hands. This is what modernized identification looks like.”
Under a Memorandum of Understanding, the Attorney General’s Office and Safe House Project will work to raise awareness among residents, law enforcement, and frontline workers in healthcare, education, hospitality, and transportation.
Missourians can report suspected trafficking by downloading the Simply Report app, visiting simplyreport.com, or calling 1.833.5.BESAFE. More information about Safe House Project is available at safehouseproject.org.
