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Police arrest more than 50 in child-sex probe
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CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Thu. Mar. 26 2009 12:00 PM ET
Police across Canada have arrested more than 50 people on charges of sexual assault, sexual interference and possessing, making and distributing child pornography.
Project Salvo, the largest-ever co-ordinated investigation of Internet-based child sexual abuse in Canada, was led by the National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre (NCECC).
The operation, involving the RCMP and 35 police departments, focused on an Internet ring in which participants exchanged child porn online.
At a press conference Thursday, RCMP Sgt. David Fox, with the NCECC, said police issued 71 search warrants and arrested 57 people in total.
Fox said police have laid more than 100 criminal charges, seized 130 computers, dozens of computer hard drives, and thousands of computer storage devices and discs.
"Additional searches, arrests and charges are anticipated in the coming weeks," he said.
The operation took three months to complete and police used advanced investigative tools and technology to track the suspects online.
Fox, in an interview with CTV Newsnet after the press conference, said child-porn addicts have a "need-driven behaviour."
"They're going to act out on their fantasies," Fox said. "These people that are involved in this are offending and committing sexual assaults against young children in our own backyards, in the communities that we live in."
RCMP Supt. John Bilinski, who is in charge of the NCECC, said Internet-based child sexual abuse crosses many jurisdictions.
"This project goes a long way in demonstrating that Canada has a multi-pronged response strategy to Internet-facilitated child sexual exploitation," Bilinski said at the press conference.
He called on citizens to actively report crimes if they suspect someone is involved in exploiting children.
"I can assure you that we will continue to put every effort towards protecting children in Canada and abroad," he said.
Lianna McDonald, with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (CCCP), said secrecy is the cornerstone of child sex abuse.
"No longer can we doubt that we have a growing problem in this country surrounding the sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children," McDonald said.
"Today's announcements underscore the need for Canadians to wake up and recognize that this growing problem is affecting all of our children."
The CCCP operates cybertip.ca, a website where Canadians can report online sexual exploitation of children.
Since launching in 2002, McDonald said the website has received more than 30,000 tips.
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I applaud the budget, even though Health Care and education may stay unscathed. Sadly this cannot last and I worry to later this year where cuts will become enviable. If anything, this provides the Wildrose Alliance plenty of ammo when an election is called.
Comments are now closed for this story
D Red Deer
said
CYL
said
The tapes are already made. All the money these criminals made or will be making for the rest of their sorry lives should be put towards these children's support, counselling and welfare.
in Ottawa
said
Remarkable
said
Put them in General Population in the prisons, so that justice can really be handed down onto these sick, sick individuals.
Can they be rehabilitated? No!! It is a deep, dirty, vile thing that is in their nature and you know you that no doctor or councilors are going to change your nature.
R in O
said
Kerry in Calgary
said
Scott in Ottawa
said
Dean
said
liz ottawa
said
A. Bica
said
That side however, I always wonder just what the point of making such a big show about capturing these people, for that matter drug dealers, weapons smugglers, etc is all really about.
It strikes me that when policing authorities trumpet their initiatives, and their success such as in this case, that you really only drive the perpetrators further underground and to invent other, perhaps more effective, methods. After all, do they really think such a coup is going to cause them to say "well, that's it for me! I'm going out of the business!"?
Methinks it's more of a job justification on the part of policing authorities to set the stage for their eternal plea "if we just had more resources!".
valerie middleton, uniy sask
said
David sawkiw[saskatchewan farmer]
said
Cold North Wind/Quebec
said
guppies
said
Send them to jail for what a month, 2 months..etc.
We have a weak Justice system system to put this people behind bar.
We should learn something from China see how they deal with this people once they get caught.
Don Ontario
said
D in Halifx
said
Joe from CowTown....B.Ville
said
Marilyn A
said
As a grown up former victim, I deeply thank you.
James
said
mac
said
bottom line... ANYONE who violates another person LOSES their rights ... and has to earn them back.. ESPECIALLY if children are involved - anyone who violates children, animals in particular are just plain sick and stop blaming "bad childhood, abusive parents, bullying...etc" it is about time we ALL took responsibility for our actions - including the justice system to protect the victim(s) - again especially children and animals who can't defend themselves.
Leah
said
Philip
said
B
said
Gail (Hamilton)
said
Marty
said
Angela Gibson
said
Jim in Ottawa
said
Lock 'em up with the general population, and throw away the key.
Here Comes Another Slap on the Wrist
said
I have to completely agree with the notion of tatooing this particular brand of criminal right across the forehead.
Carolina from Oak Ridges
said
Adam
said
The Liberal government were not very receptive to treating this issue with the brute force necessary to fight it. If we are honest with ourselves too, we would acknowledge that the foundation of these crimes against defenceless children is the proliferation of pornography in general in our culture. Our moral fabric is corrupt and now the children are paying the price. Shameful!
Jimmy
said
Mar
said
I agree, this might just give criminals better ideas on how to hide, but I disagree this is the fault of the police or them tooting their own horn (which really, why shouldn't they? people bash the police all the time, they deserve some praise), I think that its the media and their incessant chant that its the public's "right to know". This "right to know" can be more detrimental than good, the media demand to know what is going on, plus court hearings are public and therefore this will get out either way as the documents are public record. Sometimes I think its in our best interest not to know, such as in this case, because the criminals don't need any more help hiding their crimes, and the police need the right tools to find them and stop them.
I also agree with harsher punishments for these people, I think Canada has swung too far to protect the criminals and have forgotten about the need to protect society and the victims. If you do the crime you lost your rights because you took someone else's rights away, it was your choice, not theirs and now the criminal should have to live with the repercussions of a loss of certain rights.
Brenda
said
I know that more arrests will now be coming but lets hope the judges do their job and not give a slap on the wrist.
I personally think all these individuals should be dropped onto a deserted island and left there with no chance of parole. but because the justice system is weak and the prisons overcrowded a tatoo on the forhead or checks would help the public to identify these people and keep our children safe (not talking going after them in any way) but to help the children and youth to stir clear of them. This would also make it impossible for them to change their name and get jobs working where there are the vunerable youth.
We must also make their faces and location public knowledge -- we had one here his picture was in the paper and the first thing he did was to go to watch youth soccor and follow them to a convience store he wasn't worried because he thought no one would know who he was.
Again as a mother, grandmother, aunt and caregiver of youth and worker with vunerable persons I say THANK YOU AND GOOD JOB (I feel sorry for those who must watch and try to find these sick videos) Now the work begins with trying to find these poor children and getting them the help they so desperately need -- not an easy task.
Pam from Calgary
said
Pedophiles should not have any rights or freedoms. No one has the right to take the life of an innocent child in any form.
Dave
said
CYL
said
Jean
said
Let's ACTUALLY support children PLEASE!
said
and for the people posting comments how left gov't supporters are all for the rights of these sickos...
I am as left as you get and I would GLADLY support tougher laws and sentences for these disgusting people!!!!!
AND i might add as a so called 'left-winged supporter'
I ALSO support putting money into the nec social programs that can assist children!
I find it odd that the same people who are claiming us who support the left are in any way shape or form responsible for this sickness in society when we are the most likely to want to redirect tax dollars to children's welfare and you so called 'right- wingers' are most likely to object to social programs.
Get educated on the REAL issues of survivors of sexual abuse and stop voting for governments (like campbell- BC Liberals) who care so little about children that they CAUSE child poverty rates to soar AND cut the Ministry designated to PROTECT our children!
I'm SICK of people NOT caring about children in the province of BC!
I grew up here and DEMAND that we get our province bACK to putting children FIRST!!!!!!!!
beverly Lethbridge, Ab
said
The irrepairable damage done to those children should result in jail terms or punishments which will have the same sustainable damage to the lives of the perpetrators.
Peer pressure can be an effective tool at times.....
Linda Toope
said
Linda, NL
Klaudia Veltheim
said
To Remarkable, U're right, these people should be marked in a way that allows for the protection of our children. After all, they leave their 'mark' on us. I can see some jerk posing like Santa, or a sad-looking, crying clown, or just no dressup, just a regular looking loser "looking for his lost puppy", or kitty. What a trap. Never mind the candy. Parked cars are even dangerous targets. These creeps ought to be wearing a GPS bracelet for the rest of their lives, if they're to live amongst us & our children, so that it is known where they are [or were] at all times. I know this won't stop them from committing their crimes, even castration will not for some. It may just deter the odd few. Either institutionalizing them, be it in a jail or a place where these kinds of people can be put, and let them pick on one another - and see how they like a dose of their own medicine. Now this sounds vengeful, and it isn't my intent, nor my nature. There is NO understanding sex crimes against children or anyone for that matter. The day will never come that one can understand these people. Only these people can 'understand' and they do not think like we do, and they never will. They will always deny deny deny when we ask of them. And, we'll never come to an understanding with their attitudes, lifestyles and the big question 'Why?', but let's come to a solution about protecting innocent lives. This world is gaining population and predators. We need MORE help. Again THANK YOU for all the hard work on the part of Police Departments everywhere.
Charley Rose
said
I could never, and will never, understand the sick minds of this type of criminal. To abuse the most vulnerable members of our society, the most innocent members, the ones who don't even know what sex or abuse is..... I just don't know what must go through their heads when they think of satisfying this kind of 'need', how could that possibly be exciting? Frightening! That's all I can say, frightening!
CMT
said
So now the judges have to decide what their sentance will be. Well, I say send them to prison for a very long time...I don't mean the holiday inn kind of prison...I mean chain gang, work from sun up til sun down kinda jail!!
No television for them!! No sporting events no news casts NOTHING nothing at all...they did the worst of crimes...to take an innocent child and abuse them calls for nothing less of punishment. May God have mercy on their souls cause I sure don't!
RT
said
Andy - Vancouver
said
Crimes against children are not a one time event as the repercussions on the children last a lifetime in EVERY case.
Personally, I think pedophiles should be tossed into general population in prisons and let the Darwinian theory play itself out. No need for special cells or additional guards...
This may sound draconian, but lets face reality, such individuals are pathological liars who can not be treated, because treatment requires an honest self awareness of their crimes. Few ever reach that point.
If the prison population deems these people fit to live, then let them serve their terms. If not, Oh Well!
Michelle
said
Julie
said
Sabah
said
How these people get an access to children??
I do not want to understand child molesters, I never did and never will. It is unfortunate that our court system understands them by saying that they are mentally ill. Let me tell you something, there is no illness in their mind. They are very aware what they do to children is wrong because they calculate their actions and keep them secret.
Child molesters deserve capital punishment or life in prison.
Child molestation continues to exist because of a very soft sentence.
Matt
said
To boil the Right/Left politics down to Caring/Not Caring is wrong and insulting to everyone who cares enough to get involved in politics.
I along with most "right wingers" I know feel that effective and appropriate social programs can help bring about sustainable and long term improvements, reducing poverty and improving the quality of life for everyone.
I don't think for a second that that the left is promoting backwards policies that are going to lower the standard of living, increase poverty and cause so much suffering because they don't care. I just think they don't understand WHY those policies don't work.
Rather than argue left/right, we need to work on debating the merits of the policies and programs that are going to help solve/reduce these problems.
Even an unemotional analysis shows that poverty and suffering are economic drains which waste resources that could be put to better use, and benefit everyone.
Increased national/global wealth means mre for the rich, more for the poor, and more for the rest of us in the middle.
That's what the right side of the political spectrum stands for, and that's what I'm working for.
When you have a win-win solution like that, it's frustrating to see the left fighting for short sighted lose-lose or win-lose policies.
A. Bica
said
Furthermore, you don't even have to have them in your hands to qualify having them in your possession. Simply on your monitor is deemed possession!
Many of these people will have had nothing to do with the actual abuse of the children, the making of the photos, will not have bought or sold, even distributed them but simply looked at the photos.
Gawd help us all! We've gone way past a police state. Way passed civil liberties! Way back to Hitler burning books!
And anyone who speaks out about this will be labeled a pedophile themselves, a pedophile lover, or some other such thing. Don't believe me . . . just watch the responses to this post!!!
Todd (East Kootenays)
said
Unfortunately Canada has some of the weakest penalities for child related pornography, even by comparision to Holland and other "liberal" European countries. It must be so frustrated for the police who have to submerse themselves in this disgusting, heart-breaking world for thousands of hours an see these scumbags released with minor sentences. This stuff just sends me off the deep-end and shows clearly that EVIL exists in our world!
Matt
said
Can we wait till they're convicted before we punish them?
Chris Burton
said
A. BICA you need to do some research and you need to help catch some abusers. You obviously have no idea how tough it is not only for the police to have to view this horrible stuff and then try to catch the perps - but then when they finally gather enough evidence and get as many as they can they get armchair critics like you telling them they should do this or they should do that. The poor officers who are tortured in their sleep from re-envisioning the horror deserve your thanks and your honouring of this extremely difficult and life changing task.
Second point - Someone made a comment that it's likely the judges that are viewing the stuff and that's why criminals get off easy. I have a friend, actually, whose father was as judge and he sexually abused her from the time she was an infant. Yes, to whoever said they come from all walks of life - they can be 'pillars of the community', don't doubt it. And, yes, we need to be the eyes and ears to help our wonderful police who are willing to spend the sleepless nights and the aching backs to try to wipe clean a window pane in a filthy warehouse that none of us want to claim responsibility for. Any complainers had better have written to the government to make punishments worse, and any complainers had better be talking to advertisers, to television stations, movie makers and internet site hosts that show porn.
island girl
said
what sentence?
said
Allison Halifax
said
If the are convicted, they deserve min 25 years.
Someone above mentioned that some of these people didn't make the porn, just watched it...
But yes, downloading child porn and JUST looking at the pictures is as punishable as making it.
If it weren't that's like saying it's ok to do the coke, just don't grow it.