NEW POLICE RESOURCES TO COMBAT CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

The government of Saskatchewan is providing funding of $133,000 this year and nearly $1 million annually to expand the provincial strategy on Child Sexual Exploitation.

"The use of a child or youth under the age of 18 years for sexual purposes in exchange for money, drugs, food, or shelter is sexual exploitation," Justice Minister Frank Quennell said. "Children and youth exploited in these ways are victims of sexual abuse and should be protected. The sexual exploitation of children and youth is reprehensible and cannot be tolerated."

The province will provide $50,000 this year, with $550,000 annually to expand the capacity of police services to deal with street level sexual exploitation of children. Five new municipal police positions are being provided – two in each of Regina and Saskatoon, and one in Prince Albert. These positions will work closely with community organizations and government agencies.

The province will also begin work this year to establish a specialized team staffed by two prosecutors and one assistant co-ordinator to strengthen the province's ability to use the National Flagging System to identify long-term offender or dangerous offender cases. One new RCMP investigator will work closely with the prosecutors. Thirty-three thousand dollars is being provided this year, with $390,000 to be provided each year thereafter.

Funding of $50,000 will be made available this year to begin development of a $150,000 public education campaign aimed at prevention of child sexual exploitation. Further details of the campaign will be announced followed detailed development of the plan.

In 1997, Saskatchewan developed a comprehensive strategy to protect children from sexual exploitation through the sex-trade. Further actions were implemented in response to the June 2001 recommendations of the Joint Special Committee of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan (Special Committee to Prevent the Abuse and Exploitation of Children Through the Sex Trade).

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For More Information, Contact:

Andrew Dinsmore Justice Regina Phone: 306-787-8606 Email: adinsmore@justice.gov.sk.ca