The Chatham-Kent Police have arrested three men in connection with the Provincial Strategy to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation on the internet.
Police officials say the Project has been made possible by a grant from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.
“The Chatham-Kent Police Service would like to remind all citizens that the Internet provides many excellent learning opportunities for children,” stated ICE Unit member Cons. Gary Oriet.
“It also opens another door to predators who want to exploit and abuse children. Parents and guardians need to educate themselves to keep children safe and keep internet predators out of our real and virtual communities.”
Oriet said there are many ways for parents and guardians to protect their children, including”
– Be involved and know your child’s online activity
– Keep the computer in an open area of the home
– Remind children to protect their passwords, encourage them not to share passwords with friends
– Use caution with web cams, unplug web cams when they’re not in use
– Be sure of who they’re talking to before allowing them to turn on a web cam
– Make sure children are cautious with what they post online
– Know their online friends the same way you know their friends which were met by more traditional means
Chatham-Kent police officials say over the last three weeks, the Chatham-Kent Police Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) has conducted investigations into the possession and distribution of child pornography and into the offence of luring a child through the means of telecommunication devices.
Three search warrants on three separate residences were prepared and executed.
Three men were arrested and charged in relation to three separate investigations.
Numerous electronic devices were also seized.
On April 8, members of the Chatham-Kent Police ICE Unit executed a search warrant on a residence in Chatham.
James Johnston, 51 years, was arrested and charged with Making Child Pornography Available and Possession of Child Pornography.
He was released with conditions pending a future court date of May 6, 2016.
On April 12, members of the Chatham-Kent Police ICE Unit arrested and charged a Chatham man, Shannon Mathewson, 45 years, for the offences of Luring a Person under 16 years of age by means of Telecommunication Device and Making Sexually Explicit Material Available to a Person under 16 years of age.
He was released with conditions pending a future court date of June 1, 2016.
On April 14, a 54-year-old Chatham man was arrested after a month long investigation by the Chatham-Kent Police ICE Unit for the offences of Accessing Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography and Making Available Child Pornography.
He was released with conditions pending a future court date of May 4, 2016.
Police officials say the most fundamental responsibility as a society is to protect our children from those who would do them harm.
The Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet demonstrates that Ontario police services, including the Chatham-Kent Police Service take this responsibility seriously,: CKPS officials said.
