A New Westminster, BC, man has been arrested and charged with possession of child pornography in what police say is becoming a more common and resource-intensive type of investigation with the rise of AI-generated images.

Christien Stringam, 45, was arrested on July 11 and has since been released from custody pending a court order.

Court records show that Stringam appeared in court in New Westminster earlier this month on a single count of possession of child pornography, which allegedly occurred in May 2023.

The New Westminster Police Department says major crimes investigators arrested the suspect after an investigation into child sexual abuse images posted online.

The investigation began after the department received information from the RCMP’s Integrated Child Exploitation Unit of BC

“Possessing this material provides a perverse incentive for those who distribute and create child sexual abuse materials to continue their activities,” said New Westminster police Sgt. Andrew Leaver said in a press release on Friday.

“It’s a cycle that causes far-reaching harm to children, their families, caregivers and communities.”

The conditions of Stringham’s release from custody include a prohibition on communicating or being alone with anyone under the age of 18, according to the release.

“These types of surveys are becoming more frequent and more resource-intensive given new factors such as AI-generated imagery,” Leaver added.

“Currently, the New Westminster Police Department does not have an investigator dedicated to child sexual abuse investigations.”

Stringham is scheduled to appear in court in New Westminster on Nov. 6.