Kamloops RCMP Detachment (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

CRIME UPDATE

Kamloops RCMP report disturbing increase in sexual assault, child exploitation files in 2025

Feb 26, 2026 | 4:33 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops RCMP Detachment Commander Supt. Jeff Pelley presented his 2025 year end numbers to city council on Tuesday (Feb. 24). Kamloops Mounties saw a slight increase to overall files of just 1 per cent.

“Our Sex Crimes Unit, it was one of the most demanding operational years that they have had in 2025,” Pelley reported to council.

Pelley told council sexual assaults increased by 13 per cent and that, over the course of 2025, the Kamloops RCMP received 100 integrated child exploitation files.

“That is a substantial increase from 62 in 2024,” said Pelley. “And that is where we work closely with (E) Division and certain investigations that come forward. Many of these investigations require immediate action, applications for subscriber information, search warrants, digital evidence.”

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The detachment attributes some of the increase to online offences, which come with their own set of investigative challenges.

“Some of the offenders are becoming more sophisticated, including encrypted platforms and how those offences occur, so that unit has been very advanced and we continue to grow within that need,” added Pelley.

Ever-changing technology is something Alix Dolson at the Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre is also dealing with.

“It’s really easy as a parent or caregiver to think I have parental control set up – the risk has been mitigated. But the reality is predators will always be more creative, will always be more tenacious in finding ways to exploit children. And so, unfortunately, it falls to parents and caregivers,” Dolson told CFJC Today Thursday.

Pelley noted the detachment also believes more people have been willing to come forward and report the crimes. While that may be accurate and the counselling centre is seeing an increase people accessing services, Dolson highlighted a sobering national statistic.

“We need to be careful anytime we looked at reported rates of sexual assault to make sure we aren’t conflating that with the actual incident rates of sexual assault,” said Dolson. “We know probably around fewer than 6 per cent of sexual assaults in Canada are reported to the police and it’s really difficult to get exact numbers on that because there are a lot of survivors who choose to tell nobody about their assault.”

The sex crimes unit was supported over the last year through reserve constables to ensure full staffing. However, the violence in relationship coordinator was temporarily reassigned to general duty.

“To see those impacts of capacity, bureaucracy, funding levels, really target the most vulnerable people in our community,” said Dolson. “I’m glad that position is filled again and support exists for people but it really demonstrates the value in that type of policing and perhaps provides some insight into where we could move forward with that type of policing.”