The Child Abuse / Internet Child Exploitation Unit is responsible for investigating all incidents of child sexual abuse or child physical abuse occurring in the Niagara Region. These are incidents of sexual or physical abuse where the victim is under 16 years of age at the time of the reporting of the incident. The Child Abuse / Internet Child Exploitation Unit is also responsible for the investigation of child pornography possession and distribution and the investigation of internet luring, where these incidents occur within the Region.

When requested, the Child Abuse / Internet Child Exploitation Unit will assist other Police Services with child abuse investigations. At the discretion of the Detective Sergeant, a child abuse investigator may be used to interview child victims or child witnesses in other serious offences.

The Child Abuse / Internet Child Exploitation Unit consists of nine [9] members which includes eight [8] Detective Constables and one [1] Detective Sergeant. These Detectives are responsible for the investigation of all child abuse matters throughout the Niagara Region. The investigators are specially trained in matters pertaining to child abuse investigations which includes specialized instruction in relation to the interviewing of child victims / witness interview techniques.

As a result of the nature of the matters investigated, the Child Abuse / Internet Child Exploitation Unit works closely with Family and Children’s Services Niagara, the Crown Attorney's Office and the Victim Witness Assistance Program.

The Child Advocacy Centre of Niagara opened its doors in the fall of 2008. From this one site a 16 member child advocacy support team- with members from Niagara Regional Police, Family and Children Services of Niagara, the mental health and medical communities, and the Crown --provides a comprehensive and timely response to allegations of child maltreatment. The goal is to treat victimized children, investigate and prosecute their abusers through a multi-disciplinary approach. When an abused child enters the CACN he or she meets one of the team members in a comforting and relaxed environment that helps reduce the child's trauma and allows the child to accurately disclose details of the abuse. The Niagara Regional Police Service supports this concept and is committed to conducting all child victim interviews at this location. The Niagara Regional Police Service and Family and Children Services will continue to work jointly to ensure the children of Niagara are protected.
 

What to Do If Your Child Has Been Abused 

It is a natural reaction for caregivers to desire to find out the details of a disclosure initially received from a child; however, do not interview, cross examine or push your child into giving answers as you may be traumatizing them further. In some cases, although not all, you may observe changes in your child’s behavior such as sleep disturbances, mood swings, depression, bed wetting, feelings of anger, fear or embarrassment. Whatever the symptoms, be supportive of your child as they will need your assistance during this difficult period.

If you do receive information from your child or have other reasons to believe that your child has been physically or sexually abused, contact the Niagara Regional Police Service or Family and Children’s Services Niagara as soon as you are able.

The Niagara Regional Police Service Child Abuse / Internet Child Exploitation Unit in collaboration with Family and Children’s Services Niagara is committed to protect Children from abuse. All child abuse investigations shall be handled with sensitivity and offenders, wherever possible, will be held accountable.
 

The complement of Child Abuse Unit Detectives now includes two officers dedicated full time to the investigation of Internet Child Exploitation, that being Child Pornography and Internet Luring.  The instance of child pornography investigations continues to increase in frequency each year, with the size and scope of each investigation and the amount of associated seized material increasing with each case.  The Internet Child Exploitation Unit effectively responds to Internet based crimes against children, and has established a police presence on the Internet.  A proactive approach has been taken, resulting in numerous search warrants being granted and executed, which has lead to the identification and arrest of many child pornography offenders.

The unit continues to work as part of the "Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Internet Crimes", which the NRPS joined in 2007.  This initiative has lead to a high level of inter-agency co-operation and successful joint investigations of Internet Child Exploitation not only throughout the province, but nationally and internationally.  Most recently, the NRPS Internet Child Exploitation Unit, working as part of the Provincial Strategy took part in a highly successful province-wide takedown.  The result was the biggest takedown of its kind in Canadian history, with 31 arrested and charged with over 93 offences.  Two suspects were arrested in Niagara with numerous charges laid.

The Internet Child Exploitation Unit has achieved the capability to autonomously investigate all forms of Internet Child Exploitation without having to rely upon the assistance of outside agencies.  The unit has now been recognized as having achieved a high level of expertise in the field.  Investigative successes in Niagara have been recognized nationally, and continue to be recognized at conferences and seminars.  Niagara is also recognized as currently having some of the most stringent child pornography and Internet luring sentences in the province, with a near-100% conviction rate on all charges.
 

Links to Other Sites 

• Child Advocacy Centre Niagara (CACN)

• Family and Children's Services Niagara (FACS)

• textED.ca