WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The National Human Trafficking Hotline says since 2007, almost 6,000 victims of human trafficking have been identified in North Carolina. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is helping teach women how to defend themselves. 

Tim Shortt is a corporal with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. He uses his second-degree black belt and taekwondo training to help train officers in  physical situations. 

“I am a certified subject control and arrest techniques instructor for the sheriff's department and the state. So we have a sheriff standards and we have a state. And then I've been to both level one and two of our Gracie Survival Tactics class. So I'm a level two instructor in that, and I'm also a certified instructor,” Shortt said. 

He now is helping teach women how to defend themselves through free physical self-defense classes through the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, with women of all ages attending the instruction. 

A woman practices striking with Cpl. Tim Shortt. (Spectrum News 1/Sydney McCoy)

“It's exciting when you have this many people show up, the energy is high, then pump them up and have fun. So I was pleased. But, you know, it does go back to it really puts into perspective what women are thinking,” Shortt said. 

January is Human Trafficking Awareness month and NCDOA says data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline ranks North Carolina No. 9 among the 50 states in cases reported.

“It’s important for me to help teach people just to get their education out to the community. Give them a tool, let them experience it. Because we say, 'it's not if, it's when.' So I'd rather have this in their toolbox than to not have it at all,” Shortt said. 

He says it’s always a good idea to carry personal defense items, such as pepper spray, Tasers or whistles. 

“Personal protection on the on the lowest level, is your presence, how you pay attention. You're not always on the phone. If you are on the phone, glance and look around,” Shortt said. 

Shortt says he has seen an increase of women getting concealed carry permits to better protect themselves. 

“It takes a lot, but just take that first step. If you're scared of firearms, go to someone you trust or go to a firearms instructor and have them educate. You have a walk through, do drills, get you comfortable. Once you're comfortable and you do the drills, you're less likely to be afraid to carry it,” Shortt said. 

The Rape Abuse and Incest National Network says every 68 seconds someone in the United States in sexually assaulted. 

“All this training will boost up your confidence. When you're confident, you walk a little differently. Head's up, you're not looking at the ground. Most of the time if someone's looking out to see if you could be a potential victim, then they're watching you because they know. They've already studied you. They figured it out. They have all their indicators on whether or not they want to pick you,” Shortt said. 

He says confidence is key and even how you dress can play a role in how an attacker were to view you. 

“They look for the head down. Are you on the phone the way you're carrying your pocketbook, the way you carry yourself, the way you dress? That's your presence,” Shortt said. 

A woman practices a kick during a self-defense seminar. (Spectrum News 1/Sydney McCoy)

During the course, he taught attendees how to strike, knee, kick and other ways to get out of an attacker's grip. He says if you find yourself a situation of being attacked, to yell phrases such as "fire" and "get off of me," to help attract attention for help to arrive. 

“It all depends. Are you going to be hurt? Are you going to be assaulted? Are you going to be able to recognize it before it even happens? Because doing all this training makes your situationally aware. So you become more vigilant on looking and scanning,” Shortt said. 

He says the classes are a safe space and encourages women to try different tactical methods of defense. 

“Take that step and go to a gym, a school or something. Reach out. There are plenty of people that might do it one on one. But start reaching out, research and figuring out trying out so they'll find which one they're going to like and stick with. So there's many options,” Shortt said. 

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office says it is planning on continuing hosting these free courses every few weeks. The next class will be held in February and check its social media pages for more information on upcoming classes.