A 15-year-old from Barrie accused of Possession of Child Pornography is among those facing charges in a nationwide crackdown on those who prey on children.
Project Steel is a coordinated national operation to identify and apprehend child predators. Forty people in Ontario are among the more than 100 suspects.
RCMP Inspector Mathieu Girard says Internet Child Exploitation units across Canada executed various warrants between February 17th and February 28th. A news release from the Ontario Provincial Police stated that investigators participating in the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet (Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy) worked proactively and reactively to identify individuals making, possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material. Victims were identified and safeguarded, and victim support was provided to those who were impacted.
The charges include possession of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, luring a child under the age of 16, making child pornography and publication of an intimate image without consent. The investigation in Ontario resulted in 31 victims identified, 20 children safeguarded, 40 individuals arrested, 151 charges laid, and 686 electronic devices seized.
Notably, a repeat violent offender, who had previously served a significant prison sentence for sexual offences, was arrested again. Analysis of seized devices uncovered evidence of a sexual assault on a child in a public space and the online victimization of dozens of unidentified children.
“Project Steel is a testament to the unwavering commitment of law enforcement professionals to work together throughout Ontario and across Canada to protect children from exploitation,” says Det. Staff Sergeant Tim Brown, Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy Lead. “This operation demonstrates what can be achieved when law enforcement officers and digital specialists from across different areas of expertise and geographic locations join together in a relentless pursuit of those who prey on the most vulnerable. We will not stop. We will continue to innovate, investigate and work with our partners to ensure there is no refuge for those who exploit children.”
The Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy includes 26 police agencies including Barrie Police Service, Greater Sudbury Police Service, Thunder Bay Police Service, North Bay Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, Thunder Bay Police Service, and Timmins Police Service.
The OPP says that parents, educators, child advocacy organizations, government and technology providers play a critical role in keeping children safe. Members of the Internet Child Exploitation Strategy urge everyone to stay informed, remain vigilant and work together to prevent exploitation before it happens. The public is encouraged to learn more about protecting children by visiting the Canadian Centre for Child Protection or cybertip.ca.
The RCMP National Child Exploitation Crime Centre received 118,162 complaints and reports of suspected sexual exploitation offences between April 2023 and March 2024 – a 1,278 per cent increase from 10 years ago.
If you have information regarding child exploitation, contact your local police or report online child abuse to cybertip.ca. If a child is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.
