A province-wide investigation, dubbed 'Project Time,' turned up 51 victims of online child exploitation.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and 25 other police organizations, including the Chatham-Kent Police Service and Windsor Police Service, partnered together to carry out the Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy. The intention of that strategy is to fight what has been called a significant rise in reports of online child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse material in recent years.
The coordinated effort resulted in 63 arrests and 213 charges laid.
Those arrests include two men from Chatham and one from Windsor.
A 45 year-old Chatham man faces charges of possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material, accessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material, and bestiality. He's being held in police custody with a court date scheduled for July 28.
A 35-year-old from Chatham faces charges of possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material and accessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material. His next court date hasn't been determined.
A 42-year-old Windsor man faces three counts of accessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material. He has since been released from police custody with a July 29 court date.
Also among those arrests were two people in a position of trust and authority in their communities and eight repeat offenders, OPP said.
'Project Time' also led to 814 electronic devices being seized.
"The results of this operation demonstrate the power of collaboration, the strength of the Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy, and the relentless pursuit of those who prey on the most vulnerable," said OPP Detective Staff Sergeant and Provincial Internet Child Exploitation Strategy Lead Tara Clark.
The OPP added that law enforcement can't combat these types of crimes alone and acknowledge parents, educators, child advocacy groups, and other organizations that work hard to keep children safe.
More than 150 investigations connected with 'Project Time' are ongoing.
