The Chatham-Kent Police Service is pleased to join the province-wide partnership in the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet.
“Over the past several years we have come to find that our community is not immune from this threat to our children and youth, so the Provincial funding for supporting this work is certainly welcomed” says Chief Dennis Poole.
“The Strategy allows us to better partner and engage with Police Services in our region and indeed across the Province to assist each other in attempting to deal with this borderless crime. Our digital age has allowed for predators to virtually enter our homes and connect with our kids, and although we have and will continue to actively promote preventative measures and educate the public about this issue, it also serves notice that our investigative abilities are now enhanced and it will provide a greater means for us to interdict individuals involved in the trafficking of child pornography and the sexual exploitation of children.”
Background Information Regarding the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet
– The Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet was created in response to the Ontario government’s request that police develop a coordinated, province-wide approach to combat Internet crimes against children.
– The stated goal of the Provincial Strategy was for the province to respond to this growing issue as a cohesive, united team, rather than having each municipal police force develop different approaches to deal with child pornography, luring and child sexual abuse on the Internet.
– Police services in Ontario, through the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) and the OPP, subsequently developed a systematic, victim-driven, all–encompassing approach to the prevention of child sexual abuse and exploitation on the Internet.
– The Provincial Strategy aims to effectively address the “complete picture” of child sexual abuse and exploitation – from the outset of an investigation, to offender apprehension and management, effective prosecution and sentencing, victim identification and support, as well as prevention and awareness.
– Prior to the Provincial Strategy, there was no mechanism in place for the vital coordination of intelligence, investigative support and information sharing.
– The OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Unit administers the Provincial Strategy and has formed a Joint Management Team, consisting of senior officers from the OPP, 26 police services, and Ontario’s Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and the Ministry of the Attorney General.
– The original 18 police services included: Toronto Police Service, Peel Regional Police, Halton Regional Police Service, Hamilton Police Service, Niagara Regional Police Service, Brantford Police Service, Guelph Police Service, Waterloo Regional Police Service, London Police Service, Windsor Police Service, Barrie Police Service, York Regional Police, Durham Regional Police Service, Kingston Police, Ottawa Police Service, Greater Sudbury Police Service, Sault Ste. Marie Police Service and Thunder Bay Police Service.
– In September 2014, the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (MCSCS) approved funding for eight new additional services of Belleville, Chatham-Kent, Cornwall, North Bay, Peterborough-Lakefield, Sarnia, Timmins and Woodstock, bringing the number of participating municipal police services to 26. MCSCS also funded 16 Child Victim Computer Forensic Analysts to provide more complete coverage throughout Ontario. The analysts will be deployed by police services in Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Greater Sudbury, York, Kingston, Peel, Halton, Hamilton, Niagara, Brantford, Guelph, Waterloo, Windsor, Ottawa and Toronto (2).
