Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet
Project Steel: Striking Back Against Child Exploitation
The Ontario Provincial Police has announced significant results in the fight against online child exploitation as part of Project Steel, a coordinated national operation to identify and apprehend those who prey on children.
Police services participating in the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet (Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy) played a key role in this operation. Investigators 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.
Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy results from Project Steel:
• 31 victims identified
• 20 children safeguarded
• 40 individuals arrested
• 151 charges laid
• 686 electronic devices seized
Notably, during the investigation, 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.
Law enforcement cannot combat this alone. The Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy recognizes the critical role that parents, educators, child advocacy organizations, government and technology providers have in keeping children safe. Members of the Internet Child Exploitation Strategy urge all partners 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.
Victim support and education services were provided by the Victim Services of Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry and Akwesasne.
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.
