Three people from the Peterborough area are among 63 individuals charged as part of a provincewide investigation targeting online child sexual exploitation.
The charges were announced Wednesday as part of ‘Project Time’, a coordinated enforcement initiative led through Ontario’s Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy, a partnership involving the Ontario Provincial Police and 25 other police services.
Investigators say the operation focused on individuals accused of making, possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material.
Provincewide, the investigation resulted in 63 arrests, 213 criminal charges and the identification of 51 victims, who have since been connected with appropriate supports.
Police also seized 814 electronic devices, conducted 264 criminal investigations and say another 154 investigations remain ongoing.
Among those charged are three residents from the Peterborough area. Details of the individual charges are contained in an addendum released by police. Some accused cannot be publicly identified because of court-ordered publication bans.
Investigators say two of those charged held positions of trust or authority within their communities, while eight were repeat offenders.
OPP Detective Staff Sergeant Tara Clark said Project Time demonstrates the importance of collaboration between police services across Ontario and Canada in protecting children from online exploitation.
Police say reports of online child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse material have continued to rise in recent years.
Anyone with information related to child sexual exploitation is encouraged to contact their local police service or report it anonymously through Cybertip.ca.
