New Kelowna RCMP unit looks to crack down on child pornography

A new unit for the Kelowna RCMP is aiming to crack down on online child exploitation and pornography.

The Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit is the second of its kind in B.C., with another one based in Surrey. Before the establishment of the unit, such crimes would be investigated by Kelowna frontline and general investigations officers.

Insp. Beth McAndie, who helped establish the new team, says instances of online child pornography and exploitation have been on the rise over the past few years.

“A lot of things have been attributed to COVID. We find offenders in their residence more…accessing child exploitation images,” she told CityNews. “This is not acceptable behaviour and the public has a demand of the police and other investigative agencies to deal with this.”

She says part of the unit’s goal is to inform children of potential risks when they’re online.

“What’s an important strategy for this team will be that education piece. We’re talking self-exploitation, we’re talking about different platforms now that kids and young adults have access to in terms of gaming platforms and in terms of kids are getting access to phones and iPads at a much earlier age,” McAndie said.

According to the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, there has been an increase nationwide in people accessing and possessing child pornography in the past three years.

Although Kelowna’s unit has only been in operation for just over a month, it has already led to one arrest. Two weeks ago, Mounties say someone was taken into custody after a home was searched for child pornography. The person was released without charges while a forensic search of their devices is carried out.

In addition to preventing crimes from happening in the first place, McAndie says another objective for the ICE unit is to support those who have been victimized by child pornography.

“We know that kids that have been victimized can recover, move forward, and really give back to the communities. And I think that is the importance of creating these teams,” she said.

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