Police forces across Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent say they're seeing a significant rise in the number of child pornography investigations.

The number of cases related to child pornography in our region is alarming.

“In 2011 there were 293 investigations that had started, and there were 34 charges laid," says Windsor police Sgt. Pam Mizuno.

One year later, the investigations nearly doubled.

“In 2012 there were 482 new child exploitation investigations and there were 72 charges laid that year," says Mizuno.

Of the 25 people who were charged or faced charges that year, six stemmed from a high profile case, including 49-year-old Andrew Doxtator, who was arrested after an undercover police officer posed as a 15-year-old girl online.

Police say there are a number of factors contributing to this trend.

“This can be attributed to changes in technology, advancements in technology, people having access to the internet, as well as resources that we've put towards these types of investigations," says Mizuno.

Provincial police say changes in technology mean adapting to what's out there.

“When we're seizing terabytes of storage and volumes of images, it does make the job much more difficult," says OPP Staff Sgt. Frank L. Goldschmidt of the child sexual exploitation unit.

Goldschmidt says they try and utilize technology to develop software and other methods to help.

There has also been an increase in the number of images seized by Chatham-Kent police. The internet and child exploitation unit says they have seized approximately 1 million more images in 2012, compared to 2011.

Last year, Chatham-Kent police laid 36 child pornography charges compared to 18 in 2011.

Police say parents need to be more aware of these shocking trends.

“Parents need to educate themselves, they need to teach their children the dangers of the internet, and they need to be active participants in their children's lives to help prevent this type of activity," says Mizuno.

If you come across potentially exploitive material, go to Cybertip.ca anonymously or contact a local law enforcement agency.