Nanaimo RCMP say the number of reported incident of child pornography continues to climb.
The corporal in charge of the Nanaimo RCMP General Investigation Unit received three more in a recent week.
It brings the total for 2019 to 25, compared with 42 in all of 2018, 29 in 2017, and 15 in 2016.
“The investigations are time consuming and require countless hours of reviewing and cataloguing often thousands of images of children being sexually exploited,” said Staff Sergeant Harvey Legary, Plain Clothes Commander with the Nanaimo RCMP.
“The toll the investigations have on investigators can be significant and for that reason, mental health checks up and peer to peer support is essential. Its tough but it pales in comparison to the long term impact it has on the victims and their loved ones. For that reason, we push through.”
The RCMP say that recent sentences handed down in Nanaimo Provincial court of six and ten years and a lifetime registration on the National sex offender database send a strong message to offenders.
“If you’re involved in these activities, expect a knock on your door by officers armed with a search warrant. Virtual Private Networks (VPN’s) will not hide your digital thumbprint. You will be outed and you will go to jail,” said Legary.
If you know of anyone who possesses or distributes child pornography, please call the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com or call 1-800-222-8477.
CHEK News
