In 2019 the New Westminster Major Crime Unit began an investigation into child luring. During the course of this investigation, it was learned that a New Westminster resident had targeted children online for sexual exploitation. The New Westminster Police Department Major Crime Unit made an arrest in July 2020. Since his arrest and charge approval, 44-year-old, New Westminster resident, Daniel Blain has been convicted in court of:
One count of Luring a Child contrary to section 172.1(1)a of the Criminal Code of Canada
One count of Possessing Child Pornography contrary to section 163.1(4) of the Criminal Code of Canada
This investigation spanned international borders and the New Westminster Police Department extends its appreciation to all police agencies who provided assistance, namely the British Columbia Integrated Child Exploitation Unit and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“These charges coincide with a recommendation that we typically make around the start of the school year, and that is to double-check your social media privacy settings and speak with kids about how to stay safe online,” stated Sergeant Sanjay Kumar. “Strangers can find out a lot about where you work, where you live, and information about your kids from a public-facing social media account.”
The New Westminster Police Department encourages parents and guardians to find helpful resources on the Canadian Centre for Child Protection website. In addition to age-appropriate resources about staying safe online, the website offers information about the removal of online child sexual abuse material.
