Montreal police adding 15 officers to sexual exploitation unit

Montreal police will add 15 new resources to its sexual exploitation unit starting next week, expanding a unit that has operated for nearly 25 years and currently has nearly 50 investigators.

The expansion is funded by the Ministry of Public Security, confirmed in spring as part of a Quebec government action plan on sexual exploitation. The 15 officers will establish a Montreal hub within two integrated squads: the Integrated Pimping Squad (EILP) and the Integrated Child Pornography Squad (EILP-J).

"The creation of this hub will intensify the fight against sexual exploitation, specifically on the Island of Montreal, while facilitating collaboration on criminal investigations with police forces from Quebec and elsewhere in Canada," said Cmdr. Frédéric Martineau, head of the SPVM sexual exploitation unit, in a statement. "We will be more effective, both in supporting victims and in targeting pimps who exploit them, clients who abuse them, as well as predators operating online."

The unit runs the Survivantes program and partners with the Crime Victims Assistance Centre (CAVAC) and SPHÈRES, which supports Montrealers aged 12 to 24 experiencing sexual exploitation.

Anyone who has experienced sexual exploitation or knows a victim can come forward at a neighbourhood police station or call 911. Information can also be provided anonymously and confidentially to Info-Crime Montréal at 514-393-1133 or through infocrimemontreal.ca.