THUNDER BAY – Crimebeat – Numerous charges have been laid across Ontario following a massive, coordinated, child pornography investigation by the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet. At a media conference in Vaughan, OPP Acting Commissioner Scott Tod along with members of the Provincial Strategy’s police partners and other participating law enforcement agencies, who were instrumental in bringing this investigation to a successful conclusion, announced details of the investigation.
“Every child has the right to be nurtured and the right to be safe. Child pornography is the sexual abuse of children. Every image of child pornography represents a child victim. Every trading or transmission of that image represents a re-victimization of that child,” states Scot Tod, Acting Commissioner, Ontario Provincial Police.
A total of 76 search warrants were executed, resulting in 213 charges against 60 persons, including three (3) young offenders. Charges include Sexual Assault, Child Luring, Possession of Child Pornography, Make Available Child Pornography, Distribution of Child Pornography, Making Child Pornography, and Accessing Child Pornography. In addition, 22 victims have been identified during the investigation. Quantities of drugs and weapons were also seized during the operations.
Members of the OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Unit also took the opportunity to encourage parents and guardians to proactively increase their awareness of Internet safety issues.
Additional arrests are pending and additional victims will likely be identified as the investigation continues. From August 2006 to February 1, 2012, there have been 16,131 investigations completed by the Provincial Strategy partners and OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Unit. During that time, 5,837 charges have been laid against 1,867 people.