Terrace, BC – RCMP in Terrace are releasing details about a complex and lengthy ‘sexting’ investigation involving a group of young people in the community.

Terrace RCMP Media Relations Officer, Constable Angela Rabut, says the incident began last October, after a sexually explicit image of a girl was sent, via an electronic device, to a boy, who then shared it.

Constable Rabut says the resulting investigation led to ten boys between the ages of 12 and 16 being identified as involved in some aspect of having sent and/or received sexually explicit images of minor girls, and cyberbullying.

Rabut says officers worked closely with the parents of the boys and girls to hold the youth accountable for their actions.  She says most of the boys were referred to the Terrace Community Justice Forum Group, in which some of their victims and families also took part.

“The Youth Criminal Justice Act directs police to consider options to hold youth accountable in ways other than court.”

Constable Rabut says, “Willingness to take part in a forum and accepting full responsibility for your actions are key components of a forum.  This forum brought accountability and closure for those involved.”

As a result of the incident and ensuing investigation, Terrace RCMP have formed partnerships with School District 82, school administration of Skeena Middle School and Caledonia School, the Terrace Minor Hockey Association, Ksan Society, Police Victim Services, and Child and Youth Mental Health Services.

“It is clear there needs to be a solidified community approach to stop the sexual exploitation of youth by youth,” says the RCMP spokesperson.

For parents seeking more information on this growing social challenge, Canada’s National tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children, cybertip.ca, has created a resource guide – click here.