Ontario continues to support a successful strategy that helps protect children from Internet predators.

Windsor 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 Windsor Police Service will receive $264,470 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

"Keeping our children safe from Internet predators is a key priority of the McGuinty government,” said Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. “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."

“The McGuinty government continues to support a province-wide strategy which supports our police officers as they work to keep our children and communities safe,” said Sandra Pupatello, MPP for Windsor West. “This funding will allow the Windsor police service to enhance their technology and resources needed in the battle to protect kids from internet predators.”

“Today’s announcement is yet another important action taken in the fight againstonlinepredators,” said Dwight Duncan, M.P.P. forWindsor - Tecumseh . “Through our provincial strategy, police services in our region will be better equipped to create a safer internet environment for our children.”

“The continuous financial support and commitment of the provincial government is critical in combating Internet child exploitation offences both locally and in

collaboration with the provincial strategy,” said Acting Chief of Police, Al Frederick, Windsor Police Service. “Internet based crimes target our most vulnerable citizens and victimizes them indiscriminately. These crimes are international in scope and perpetrators utilize emerging technologies very effectively to avoid detection. With funding of this kind, front line policing experts can detect and apprehend offenders.”

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

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Contacts:

Marion Fantetti Alicia Johnston

Office of Sandra Pupatello, MPP Office of Hon. Dwight Duncan