Press Coverage: 'John Stings' Under PCEPA

News reports of police undercover investigations using decoys and fake advertising to ensnare would-be customers of sexual services. The story below is a report on all the client arrests by province as of 2021.

• Few charges laid against sex work customers
  City News, October 20, 2021

Map of sex purchasing charges laid under Criminal Code 286.1 from June 2020 to June 30, 2021.

Edmonton, Alberta Street 'John Stings'

• Dozens of men charged for buying sex in Grande Prairie
  Edmonton Journal, January 30, 2020
• 'Sharks are circling': On the streets with Edmonton's human trafficking and exploitation unit Part 1: Though it's legal to sell sex, Edmonton's human trafficking and exploitation unit still works to connect with women at risk.
  Edmonton Journal, March 11, 2019
• Buying sex is illegal, billboard campaign reminds Edmontonians: 'I don't think Edmontonians, Canadians know this,' says local campaign director
  CBC News, July 12, 2017
• Edmonton police finding new ways to battle sex trade: So far this year sting operations have been conducted every other week
  CBC News, April 5, 2017
• Edmonton police charge 26 'johns' in sex-trade enforcement effort: The men charged include professionals, trade workers, and a university student
  CBC News, February 14, 2017

London, Ontario Street 'John Stings'

• Five men charged in prostitution sting: London police
  London Free Press, June 30, 2023
• Two men charged in connection with 'john' sting: London police
  Global News, April 24, 2019
• London police release names of men charged in 'john sting' in first case since policy decision
  Global News, April 4, 2019
• SafeSpace London fears naming johns could increase danger for sex workers
  Global News, February 22, 2019
• London police to name sex purchasers where legally possible
  Global News, February 21, 2019
• London police arrest 78 in Project Equinox human trafficking, prostitution investigation
  Global News, April 11, 2017

Toronto, Ontario Online 'John Stings'

• Cops posing as underage sex workers not entrapment, Supreme Court rules unanimously: A first of its kind Ontario investigation that caught 104 men using an "escorts" website was lawful, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled unanimously on Thursday
  The Star, November 24, 2022
• York police arrest 104 after officers pose as child sex workers: Four-year operation, dubbed Project Raphael, zeroed in on men who sought sex with girls they believed were between 13 and 16 years old
  The Star, April 21, 2017

Vancouver, British Columbia Online 'John Stings'

• Former Vancouver School Board trustee testifies in underage sex sting case: Former Vancouver School Trustee Ken Clement was going to pay a male prostitute he thought was 19-years-old $180 an hour for sex in police underage sex sting
  Vancouver is Awesome, January 6, 2023
• 47 men arrested in police sting of those looking for sex with teenage girls
  Winnipeg Free Press, January 23, 2019

Winnipeg, Manitoba Street 'John Stings'

• Winnipeg police clarify information on not naming 'Johns': "We, as citizens, should be told"
  APTN News, September 29, 2019
• 'They're exploiting a child in need': Women's groups say law is protecting male predators: "Every single police chief across this country has the authority to make decisions around whether names will be released or not"
  APTN News, September 13, 2019
• 20 Manitoba men arrested for obtaining sexual services from vulnerable victims, police say: 15 vehicles seized in cross-jurisdictional investigation dubbed Project Beckon
  CBC News, July 29, 2019
• 'Like shooting fish in a barrel': 15 men arrested in 12 hours for buying sex on street, police say: Police and outreach workers team up for Project Return to help at-risk youth
  CBC News, September 27, 2017
• 10 johns arrested by sex-trade task force, Winnipeg police say: Arrests made March 7-11, police say
  CBC News, March 16, 2016
• How police made 26 arrests in a recent sex trade sting: Winnipeg police are tackling exploitation on city streets by earning sex workers' trust
  Winnipeg Free Press, August 27, 2015