16 people in southwestern Ontario charged in online child sex abuse roundup

A province-wide investigation into online child pornography has resulted in 16people in southwestern Ontario facing charges.

Charges include sexual assault, sexual interference, possession of child pornography and making sexually explicit material available to a child.

In this region, seven people from Londonwere charged, twowere from Chatham,and one each from Windsor,Sarnia, Owen Sound, Woodstock,Listowel, Exeter, andStrathroy.

We will not stand for anyone hurting our kids- OPPDeputy Commissioner Rick Barnum

The charges were announced at a media briefing in Vaughan.

"It is our fundamental and moral responsibility to ensure every child grows up safe," said Deputy Commissioner Rick Barnum of the OPP's investigations and support bureau.

"On behalf of the OPP, I want to make this message very clear: We will not stand for anyone hurting our kids. We will do everything we can to reduce the threat child predators pose to our children."

Dozens of victims identified

Police said55 victims were identified during their investigation. The victims have been offered support, according to the OPP.

Officers also said they seized 17 firearms, three of which were loaded handguns.

"Perpetrators of online sexual exploitation often minimize their actions by saying they were 'just looking.' Let me be clear: Anyone who possesses, distributes, accesses or otherwise supports the supply and demand chain for child sexual abuse images are complicit in the sexual exploitation of children," saidStaff Sgt. Sharon Hanlon, coordinator of theprovincial strategy to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation on the Internet.

More charges are pending, police said.