-SM, Special Correspondent, Canada
SCARBOROUGH, ON – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has unveiled shocking statistics as part of their province-wide initiative, Project Aquatic, targeting online child exploitation. The announcement came as the culmination of extensive investigations conducted by the OPP-led Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet (Provincial ICE Strategy).
The investigations, both reactive and proactive, were initiated on February 19, 2024, and concluded on February 29, 2024. The primary objective was to identify and apprehend individuals involved in the creation, possession, and distribution of child sexual abuse material. Additionally, a paramount focus was placed on providing support to the identified victims and safeguarding children impacted by these reprehensible activities.
Key findings from Project Aquatic include:
- 34 victims identified
- 30 children safeguarded
- 64 individuals charged
- 348 charges laid
- 607 electronic devices seized
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, it was revealed that one individual had arranged a meeting with undercover investigators with the intention of engaging in sexual activities with a child in real life. Moreover, another perpetrator was found to be in possession of approximately 21 terabytes of data containing child sexual abuse material.
During a media briefing, a visual aid in the form of a human-sized graphic depicted an iceberg, symbolizing the depth of the issue. The graphic illustrated the 129 investigations conducted during Project Aquatic, juxtaposed against the staggering 8,638 investigations carried out in 2023 and the cumulative 82,082 investigations undertaken between 2006 and 2023. These figures underscored the magnitude of the problem, often hidden from public view.
Police officials acknowledged the significant contributions of various stakeholders, including parents, educators, child advocacy organizations, government agencies, and technology providers, in the fight against online child exploitation. They emphasized the necessity for continued vigilance and collective action to fortify efforts aimed at protecting children from victimization.
Victim support and education were provided by the Victim Services of Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry, and Akwesasne, underscoring the comprehensive approach adopted to address the multifaceted challenges posed by child sexual exploitation.
In response to these alarming revelations, OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique reaffirmed the commitment to safeguarding children and holding perpetrators accountable. Detective Staff Sergeant Tim Brown, the Provincial ICE Strategy Lead, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in combating this heinous crime.
Signy Arnason, Associate Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, stressed the critical role of technology in facilitating ongoing harm to victims and urged the public to report any suspicious online activities involving children.
For those seeking further information or assistance, resources are available at the Canadian Centre for Child Protection and cybertip.ca.
About the Provincial ICE Strategy: The Provincial ICE Strategy comprises the Ontario Provincial Police Child Sexual Exploitation Unit (CSEU), 26 municipal police services, and key government ministries. This collaborative effort ensures a coordinated response to the complex challenges associated with online child exploitation across Ontario.
The 27 participating police agencies are:
- Barrie Police Service
- Belleville Police Service
- Brantford Police Service
- Chatham-Kent Police Service
- Cornwall Police Service
- Durham Regional Police Service
- Greater Sudbury Police Service
- Guelph Police Service
- Halton Regional Police Service
- Hamilton Police Service
- Kingston Police
- London Police Service
- Niagara Regional Police Service
- North Bay Police Service
- Ontario Provincial Police
- Ottawa Police Service
- Peel Regional Police
- Peterborough Police Service
- Sarnia Police Service
- Sault Ste. Marie Police Service
- Thunder Bay Police Service
- Timmins Police Service
- Toronto Police Service
- Waterloo Regional Police Service
- Windsor Police Service
- Woodstock Police Service
- York Regional Police
