Statistics Canada recently released the Crime Severity Index (CSI) for 2023, which showed a 2.1 per cent increase from the previous year, reaching a rate of 80.5 per 100,000 people. This is the highest the CSI has been since 2010 but still lower than peak numbers in the late 1990s. Homicides decreased in most provinces, with Manitoba reporting a significant drop of 15 cases. However, both robberies and vehicle thefts saw a five per cent increase, although they are still down more than 50 per cent from 25 years ago. The main contributors to the increase in the CSI were a 35 per cent rise in extortion rates, a 32 per cent increase in hate crimes, and a 52 per cent increase in police-reported instances of child sexual exploitation (CSE).
British Columbia accounted for 79 per cent of the overall increase in the CSI, while Alberta made up 14 per cent. Manitoba saw a slight reduction in the number of cases. Reported cases of CSE have risen by 217 per cent across Canada from 2014 to 2022. This trend did not surprise Manitoba RCMP Cpl. Gord Olson from the Internet Child Exploitation Unit, who noted a rise in cases related to luring, making and distributing child pornography. Olson highlighted that children aged 11 to 15 are primarily targeted by abusers, with both males and females being victims. In Manitoba alone, there were 609 instances of CSE between 2018 and 2022, with 411 perpetrators identified during that time period.
To protect children from online dangers, honest conversations about online safety are crucial for parents, according to Olson. Social media and online safety educator Paul Davis also emphasizes the importance of parents understanding the technology their children use and how they interact online. Davis recommends parents be aware of the risks associated with technology use regardless of background or community size. He suggests simple rules like no online devices in the bedroom, no smartphones until at least Grade 8 (unless medically necessary), and no social media before age 13 to reduce the risks of cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content. Davis advocates for children engaging in productive online activities like coding, blogging, podcasting, and app development to help them stay safe and creative.
Law enforcement agencies have an array of tools to combat instances of CSE, including those involving AI-generated content. Davis travels across the country to speak at schools and engage with parents about online safety, using data to emphasize the importance of protecting children online. By following foundational rules like limiting online access and engaging in positive online activities, parents can significantly reduce the risks their children face online. With a focus on education, awareness, and preventive measures, the hope is to decrease instances of CSE and other online dangers affecting children.
