Nova Scotians arrested in national internet porn investigation

Six people in Nova Scotia have been charged with child pornography offences as part of a national investigation into child sexual abuse on the internet.

Four individuals in Halifax, one man in Westville and one man in North Sydney were among 57 people charged across Canada this week.

Sgt. Mark Gallagher, Nova Scotia RCMP spokesman, doesn't believe any children were exploited within Nova Scotia.

"People are engaging in a criminal activity when they're looking or downloading any child pornography and it victimizes children," said Gallagher. "They're not simply images. These are real children, these are real victims."

Gallagher added that the ease of accessing pornography on the internet "increases the possibility that people are going to victimize children even more."

The RCMP and more than 30 police agencies, including Halifax Regional Municipal Police, collaborated on the investigation called Project Salvo. It was launched in November 2008 before a series of cross-country raids were undertaken this week.