Image: The Canadian Press / Investigators with the B.C. RCMP in Surrey say they have seen a substantial increase in the number of online child exploitation reported to them in just the first quarter of 2023 alone. The B.C. RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation (BC ICE) Unit receives referrals from the National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, the FBI, Homeland Security, cybertip.ca, Crimestoppers, Interpol and many other international policing partners. It received 5,790 reports in just the first quarter of 2023, and is on pace to double the 2022 figure of over 9,600 reports received.
Child exploitation in B.C. increasing: RCMP
Child exploitation, online sexual abuse cases in B.C. surging: RCMP
May 9, 2023 | 11:34 AM
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CHILLIWACK — Investigators with the B.C. RCMP in Surrey say they have seen a staggering increase in the number of online child exploitation reported to them in just the first quarter of 2023 alone.
In a press release from S/Sgt. Kris Clark, senior media relations officer for the B.C. RCMP provincial headquarters, Mounties say reports of online child exploitation rose dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, which causes many to stay in their homes.
Now that pandemic restrictions have eased, however, police say they’ve seen this disturbing trend continue upwards. The number of reported online child exploitation reports has continued to steadily increase over the past few years.
- 2021 – Over 4600 total reports received
- 2022 – Over 9600 total reports received
- 2023 [Jan. 1-March 31] – Over 5790 total reports received to date
