RCMP puts new child exploitation unit into action

The RCMP has a new team of officers with a goal to identify, pursue and disrupt online sexual abuse and the exploitation of children in the Kelowna area.

The Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit is the second dedicated unit of its kind within the BC RCMP. Until recently in Kelowna, frontline and general investigation officers conducted these investigations in partnership with the BC Integrated Child Exploitation Unit (BC ICE).

“This newly-created team of specially trained investigators works with BC ICE to investigate all aspects of these crimes,” Cpl. James Jenkins, Kelowna ICE Unit, said. “With the growing demand for online material that sexually exploits children, the Kelowna ICE Unit’s goals are to ensure children are not being actively offended against, identify and remove images from the internet, and successfully prosecute those who access, produce, and traffic in this material.”

RCMP say an outcome of the pandemic is an unprecedented increase in the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection has reported national increases in accessing and possessing child pornography in the past three years.

The Kelowna ICE team recently took one person into custody in relation to a possession of child pornography investigation. The person was later released without charges pending a forensic search of the devices seized.

If you have information about child sexual exploitation, visit www.cybertip.ca or call Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300.