Ontario continues to support a successful strategy that helps protect children from Internet predators.
Ottawa is among 18 police services across Ontario participating in the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet, which targets online child sex crimes, Internet luring and pornography.
The Ottawa Police Service will receive $603,940 of $5.2 million in additional funding to provincial strategy partners over the next two years to support undercover teams of police officers who monitor websites, chat rooms and newsgroups to identify suspected child predators and victims, and prevent further victimization. The strategy also helps police investigators work with other agencies and jurisdictions to help apprehend offenders and assist victims.
QUOTES
“Protecting children from harm is our top priority. These additional funds will expand the good work being done by the Ottawa Police, meaning more children can safely explore the Internet.”
- Yasir Naqvi, MPP for Ottawa Centre
"Keeping our children safe from Internet predators is a key priority of the McGuinty government. Internet luring is a despicable crime that warrants our full attention. Our provincial strategy puts Ontario at the leading edge in the fight against online child sex crimes and helping youth victims."
— Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services
QUICK FACTS
§Since the provincial strategy was first implemented in 2006, nearly 4,800 investigations have been conducted and almost 2,000 charges have been laid against 634 people.
§The Ontario Provincial Police coordinate the strategy with 18 police services including Barrie, Brantford, Durham, Sudbury, Guelph, Halton, Hamilton, Kingston, London, Niagara, Ottawa, Peel, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Waterloo, Windsor and York.
LEARN MORE
Read about Child Safety on the Internet.