Canada's first national crackdown on child pornographers, Project Steel, netted 106 arrests
National exploitation investigation, local charged
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A Belleville man has been charged as part of a large online child exploitation investigation.
OPP and partnering departments announced the results of Project Steel, a coordinated national operation to identify and apprehend those who prey on children.
One hundred fifty-one charges were laid and 40 people were arrested (in Ontario), including a 49-year-old from Belleville.
Charges for the unnamed man include luring a person under 16, possession of child porn, transmitting explicit material to a person under 18, and agreement to a sexual offence against a child.
He is in court March 27.
A LIST OF THOSE CHARGED (in Ontario) CAN BE FOUND BY CLICKING HERE
MORE DETAILS BELOW
The Ontario Provincial Police have 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 911.
QUOTES
“Project Steel is a testament to the unwavering commitment of law enforcement professionals to work together throughout Ontario and across Canada to protect children from exploitation. This operation demonstrates what can be achieved when law enforcement officers and digital specialists from across different areas of expertise and geographic locations join together in a relentless pursuit of those who prey on the most vulnerable. We will not stop. We will continue to innovate, investigate and work with our partners to ensure there is no refuge for those who exploit children.”
– Det. Staff Sergeant Tim Brown, Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy Lead
ABOUT THE PROVINCIAL ICE STRATEGY
The Provincial ICE Strategy is comprised of the Ontario Provincial Police Child Sexual Exploitation Unit, 25 municipal police services, the Ministry of the Attorney General and the Ministry of the Solicitor General. The Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy provides a unique, provincially coordinated effort that recognizes regional needs and issues, as well as the challenges associated with geographically dispersed victims throughout Ontario.
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Saskatchewan police make multiple arrests in child porn crackdown
Police in Saskatchewan have arrested five people on child exploitation charges as part of a nationwide operation targeting online child sexual abuse.
Project STEEL, a coordinated effort involving 63 law enforcement agencies across Canada, led to 106 arrests nationally between February 17-28.
In Saskatchewan, the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit executed six search warrants during the two-week period.
The investigations resulted in charges against Nikola Ecim, 38, of Regina, Peter Palmer, 36, of Regina, Kieran Stevenson-Hastings, 36, of Moose Jaw, Blaisen Nicotine, 25, of Cando, and Donald Church, 66, of Lloydminster.
The charges vary and include possession, accessing, and making available child pornography.
Ecim faces additional firearms charges including unauthorized possession and unsafe storage.
Nicotine is charged with more serious offences, including making and distributing child pornography, sexual assault, sexual interference, and indecent acts.
Police say Nicotine met a victim at the Red Pheasant Cree Nation school where he was taking adult education classes.
The Saskatchewan ICE Unit, made up of RCMP and police from Regina, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert, continues to investigate internet-related child exploitation crimes as part of Project STEEL.
The RCMP says Project STEEL is part of ongoing efforts to protect children and bring child sex offenders to justice.
As mentioned above, this is, I believe, the first national program against child sexual abuse since Justin Trudeau became Prime Minister 9 years ago, and it comes on the weekend he steps down as the most incompetent Prime Minister the country has ever seen. He has done absolutely nothing against child sexual abuse.
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