RCMP ICE unit saves 55 New Brunswick children in 10 years

The RCMP's Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit has rescued 55 children from either internet luring, or hands-on abuse since its inception in 2006.

Sergeant Jean-Marc Par told those attending aCodiac Regional Policing Authority meeting Wednesdayworking in the ICE unit isn't all about finding predators.

"Sometime a lot of our workinvolves not only finding suspects, but also locating victims."

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The unit's mandate is to investigate the production, possession, and distribution of child pornography.

Par said other crimes within his scope are luring, in this case, "using a computer or any device of theinternetto lure young persons under the age of 18 into performing sex acts or disrobing on theinternetfor them."

Par also said cases of extortion files with the RCMP are also on the rise.

"What we'll see is the offender will threaten the young person to post more images or post videos of themselves online often.There's a lot of embarrassment that goes along with that."

Affects all communities

Par said he's seen it here in New Brunswick, which is why the unit was formed about ten years ago.

"It was a problem affecting all communities...and New Brunswick was no exception to that."

Parsaid in the late 1990s the FBI conducted an investigation that uncovered thousands of Canadians suspected of internet child exploitation.

"The investigations were passed on to [the]police forces, but back then they had nobody trained that knew the proper way of carrying out these investigations and the RCMP was really in the same boat in this province."

The RCMP found 17 targets in New Brunswick.

Par said three officers were chosen to conduct the investigation. He said it took longer than expected and not all 17 suspects were found, but he said it showed a need for a specially trained unit.

Today, the unit has grown to 10 positions with some located inFredericton, where ICE is based, as well as Rothesay and Moncton.

Par said in his line of work it's important to catch online predators, but just as important is educating kids and parents about the dangers of the internet.

"The important thing is to keep reminding kids, do talk to your parents about this, or you know go see somebody, don't put yourself in a situation where you're going to hit rock bottom and not see a way out of all this."