The New Brunswick RCMP has a clear message for residents taking the law into their own hands. Stop.

Police are seeing a rise in vigilante groups operating in the Dieppe, Moncton and Riverview areas. According to a recent report from CTV News, individuals are posing as children online to lure people into committing criminal acts.

The Risks of Online Vigilantism

While you want to keep your community safe, playing detective puts you in direct danger. The Codiac Regional RCMP confirms this practice interferes with ongoing investigations and ruins future court proceedings. When untrained individuals gather evidence, courts often reject it.

“We have a number of specialized units and teams who work diligently investigating these types of crimes each and every day,” said Cpl. Luc Picard with the New Brunswick RCMP. “Our investigators have very robust strategies, including undercover police work, to tackle these complex investigations in accordance with the Criminal Code and case law.”

Real Results Take Time

The RCMP is actively working on child exploitation cases across the province. Since April 2024, police arrested 38 people, laid 74 charges and located 153 victims.

Picard notes the public rarely sees the daily work happening behind the scenes. Gathering digital evidence requires strict compliance with court demands.

“Due to the complexities of these investigations, and the expertise required to retrieve digital evidence in compliance with court demands, they often take time in order to ensure the case can be successfully prosecuted,” Picard said.

How You Can Help

If you have information that helps an investigation, leave the sting operations to the professionals. You need to contact the authorities directly. Call the RCMP at 1 888 506 7867. If an incident is in progress or you face an emergency, dial 911 immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the RCMP advise against online vigilantism?

Taking the law into your own hands puts your personal safety at risk. It also compromises official police investigations and prevents successful prosecutions in court.

What is the RCMP doing to stop child exploitation?

The RCMP uses specialized units and undercover strategies to track predators. Since April 2024, they have arrested 38 individuals and rescued 153 victims across the region.

How do I report suspicious online activity?

You must report suspicious activity directly to the police. Call 1 888 506 7867 for non urgent situations or dial 911 if a crime is actively happening.