Click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter.
Saskatchewan ICE released their annual report on Thursday. (Submitted photo/Saskatchewan ICE)
Staying safe online

Saskatchewan ICE reports increase of online child exploitation cases over past 3 years

Mar 3, 2022 | 5:23 PM

According to the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit, the number of cases across the province have increased significantly over the last three years.

In Saskatchewan ICE’s annual statistics report released on Thursday, there were 853 files in 2021, up from 737 in 2020, 538 in 2019, and 321 in 2018.

Out of the 853 investigations, 113 were done by the Prince Albert office.

Saskatchewan ICE said awareness for child exploitation online has grown and received more media coverage. ICE receives files from national programs, police agencies and online searches.

Provincewide, the investigations led to 97 changes; 11 of luring a child, two of making child pornography, 20 of transmitting/making available child pornography, 37 of possessing child pornography, five of breach of condition, and two of bestiality.

Saskatchewan ICE advised families to have regular conversations about online safety, to monitor the online activities of their children, to help create logins and passwords with younger children, and to tell children they can report about any interaction that makes them feel uncomfortable without risk of losing privileges.

Reports can be made at Cybertip.ca and more information can be accessed at protectkidsonline.ca.

panews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow