In one year alone the special unit for child victimization has laid 1 350 charges against 383 people and helped 106 victims.
For 40 years a special OPP unit has been working to protect kids from exploitation.
Sergeant Dave Rektor says this was a big year for the OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Unit. "We're very proud that the OPP team that fights child victimization has marked its 40th anniversary and that is the Child Sexual Exploitation Unit. It's comprised of 26 police agencies that work co-operatively across the province to defend young kids that are sexually exploited."
Rektor says this year alone they managed to identify 106 victims and helped to get them to community support services to start to healing process. "As of October 31st the unit itself had over 5 000 investigations underway. They have laid over 1 300 charges against 383 people. So make sure you know what your kids are up to online, make sure you know where they are, who they're interacting with, and make sure you talk to them about appropriate activity online."
Rektor also pointed out this is not an easy field of work - many of these officers risk their mental well being in the line of duty. "The focus will be on education and awareness. We just want to provide caregivers of young children the tools necessary to help us fight this very important issue. It's probably one of the most horrible units to work in in policing. You see the worst of the worst of humanity, especially when these kinds of offences concern young people."
In this digital age the special unit encourages parents to talk with their children about the dangers of interacting with strangers online; it's far too easy for a predator to pose as a child to gain access to these vulnerable young people.
Parents of those who have been victimized can go to the website for the Canadian Centre for Child Protection to find help.
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