Members of the Ontario Provincial Police Child Sexual Exploitation Unit and City of Kawartha Lakes OPP Detachment arrested and charged a City of Kawartha Lakes resident following an online undercover child sexual exploitation investigation.
On May 1, 2020, an individual attended a location in Lindsay for the alleged purposes of meeting a child that was under the age of 16. When the individual arrived, they were met by police and arrested without incident. As a result of this investigation, 22 year old Peter Austin Rae SWANTON, was charged with two counts of luring a person under the age of 16 and four counts of being in breach of their release order.
Police are asking anyone who may have information regarding this investigation or if you have information regarding internet child exploitation, please contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. If wish to remain anonymous you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca. Reporting information may also be made on the internet through www.cybertip.ca.
“The OPP will continue to aggressively identify and pursue individuals who use technology to exploit children. Child exploitation is everyone’s business and police cannot do it alone. Everyone needs to know that these offenders operate among us and go undetected due to a lack of understanding. Everyone can make a difference by educating themselves about what child sexual exploitation really looks like.” – Staff Sergeant Sharon Hanlon, OPP Child Sexual Exploitation Unit.
Anyone wanting to make a difference is encouraged to go to www.protectchildren.ca and download the “Child Sexual Abuse-It Is Your Business” brochure from the Canadian Center for Child Protection. This is an important first step that can save a child.
Parents are reminded to take a proactive approach to help protect their children from online sexual exploitation by speaking with their children regarding internet safety. Parents and anyone interested in protecting children can find resources to assist them at: https://www.cybertip.ca/app/en/
