“No matter what happens online, you need to tell me.”
That simple message from parents to children about Internet predators could have a major impact on reducing child exploitation, according to Chatham-Kent Police Service Detective Constable Gary Oriet.
Oriet, speaking before the Rotary Club of Chatham last week, said in a recent case, an online predator sent inappropriate pictures of himself to 30 children and only one came forward and told parents.
“Sex offenders used to go to parks and public places,” he said. “Now they use the Internet and phones to get into your kids’ bedrooms.”
One of two members of the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit of the CKPS, Oriet said the number of exploitation cases has increased from 14 in 2014 to 80 last year to 52 in less than half of 2016.
He said parents must be vigilant in monitoring their children’s online use and need to use up to date technology to control devices used by their children.
Oriet said parents could set usage limits and use routers that can block devices from accessing dangerous sites.
“You need to be proactive because these predators are out there and they are determined,” he said.
He told the crowd of a recent arrest made after a man had driven from Toronto to Chatham-Kent to meet what he thought was an underage girl.
When the suspect was taken into custody, Oriet said he had “the worst ten seconds of my life” when opening the suspect’s trunk because he thought he would find a “rape kit” there.
The 13-year police veteran, who has been a member of ICE for four years, said he undergoes psychological examination annually to ensure he can still meet the challenges of his work.
Oriet, who along with a computer forensics specialist comprises the ICE unit, classifies those children identified as being victims of online exploitation as “saved” once police take action.
He said worldwide, 5,000 children were saved last year. Of that number, 1,043 were from Canada and 326 were from Ontario.
Oriet pointed to the 179 investigations undertaken by the unit since 2010 as evidence that exploitation can take place anywhere.
He said cooperation between police departments in stopping exploitation is “phenomenal” recalling an investigation in which a suspect identified locally was arrested only one day later in Minnesota.
Oriet said that police use the same tools predators use to lure children, including posing as children online.
With constantly evolving Internet apps (applications) that allow exchange of personal information, police need to expend resources just to keep up with predators and their unknowing victims.
He said any photos or videos of children being exploited are treated as “crime scenes” and are electronically scoured for clues as to their location.
Despite the best efforts, Oriet said lack of resources last year meant nearly 40 instances of home computers possessing online child pornography weren’t completed.
“There should be three of me in Chatham-Kent,” he said. “Toronto has eight officers, they should have 20.”
