A dramatic increase in reported child-related sexual exploitation in New Brunswick.
RCMP says there were nearly 570 new investigations launched in 2023.
That’s an increase of around 330 per cent compared to eight years earlier.
Police say with youth relying more on social media, there are more ways for criminals to target them.
Since 2021, the New Brunswick RCMP’s ICE Unit has executed 73 search warrants, resulting in 52 arrests and 103 charges laid. There is an average of over 70 reports of sextortion per week in Canada.
“It is important for parents and guardians to speak with their children about how to stay safe when using the internet,” says Corporal Hans Ouellette. “We understand that it may be difficult for youth to talk about these types of incidents, but it is vital to notify the police as soon as possible if you have been a victim of online extortion or online sexual abuse of any kind.”
For more information on how to protect yourself and your children online, parents can visit the following links:
- RCMP Internet Safety
- Cybertip.ca
- Protectkidsonline.ca
- Needhelpnow.ca
- Dontgetsextorted.ca
