December 11, 2015
1330
(ORILLIA, ON) – Every day in this province, children and teens are being victimized in their communities and in the on-line world.
Forty years ago, the OPP joined forces with other police agencies to crack down on child sexual predators. The unit began with one OPP investigator and one from the then-Metro Toronto Police. Originally referred to as “Project P,” it has become the OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Unit.
Today, highly-trained teams from 26 police agencies work co-operatively with the OPP as part of the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet. In 2006, the “Provincial Strategy” was created in response to the need for a co-ordinated, province-wide approach to combat Internet crimes against children. Officers work tirelessly to identify victims, seek out predators, and guide leading-edge computerized forensics in their fight against these horrific crimes.
This year alone, as of Oct. 31, the OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Unit, and members of the Provincial Strategy, have undertaken 5,065 investigations, and laid 1,350 charges against 383 people. During that time, 106 victims were identified and referred to community support services.
Marking the 40th anniversary in Orillia, Dec. 7, OPP chief superintendent Don Bell, commander of the Investigation and Support Bureau, addressed officers about the complex and labour-intensive investigations that police undertake with limited resources to hunt down predators who exploit and abuse children. He praised the members’ persistence and professionalism while noting the potential toll investigations take on their well-being. He reminded officers that, before police can take care of others, they need to take care of themselves.
The OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Unit and the Provincial Strategy have a reputation of excellence, and remain highly-regarded among their policing partners worldwide.
In their ongoing efforts to protect children from those who would do them harm, police have remained focussed on education and awareness. Parents and guardians need to educate themselves to keep children safe and keep Internet predators out of our real and virtual communities.
For more information on what parents and those who have been victimized can do, go to the website for the Canadian Centre for Child Protection www.protectchildren.ca
Related Stories
No related stories.