The design of this complete prevention program took about two years and was made possible by the participation of several professionals from the judicial, police, school, social and community sectors, as well as from the communications field. Led by criminology and crime prevention experts from the SPVG's Division de la recherche, du développement et de la stratégie organisationnelle, this innovative program aims to prevent criminal offences related to the sexting phenomenon.

The objectives of #KEEPITPRIVATE are based on scientific research and best practices, as well as an in-depth analysis of the files handled by the SPVG police officers.

The following are the highlights and key milestones achieved during the development of the #KEEPITPRIVATE program:

• Interviews with teens and school staff members were conducted to define the needs and develop appropriate tools for #KEEPITPRIVATE.
• A pilot project was conducted in a Gatineau high school in the spring of 2015 to evaluate the content of the workshops presented to students, validate the level of language used to facilitate discussions, determine whether the topics addressed responded to students' questions and whether they found the information relevant, confirm the ideal age for addressing the issue, and observe students' reactions.
• Following the evaluation of the pilot project by students and staff members, the SPVG worked with a communications agency to develop a visual identity and additional tools to engage young people and maximise retention of the information provided to them.
• In focus groups with adolescents, it was clear that the real terms used for private parts made them uncomfortable and closed them off to discussions with adults.
• Since one of the objectives is to encourage discussions on the sensitive topic of sexting and child pornography in order to address this urgent issue, the use of humour and semantics proposed by young people was the most strategic choice … to the surprise of some adults!
• The program was presented to high school staff members for feedback.
• #KEEPITPRIVATE was supported by the Gatineau Commission de la sécurité publique et de la circulation de Gatineau (note: this commission was disbanded in April 2017 when a new model for committees and commissions was adopted by the municipal council).
• Individual meetings with the principals of all Gatineau high schools were held to present the final program and to confirm their support for this prevention program. All thirteen public and private high schools accepted the program as presented.
• The program and its tools were presented to Gatineau's elected officials and the mayor.
• The Commission jeunesse de Gatineau, which was consulted during the development of the program, officially and unanimously supported the #KEEPITPRIVATE program and all the related tools.

We would like to sincerely thank the teens and school workers who participated in the interviews, the police officers of the Section des résolutions et des actions préventives de quartier, the École secondaire du Versant, which allowed us to carry out our pilot project, our partners, the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP) and the Centre d'aide et de lutte contre les agressions sexuelles (CALAS) de l'Outaouais, as well as all the schools that enthusiastically welcome our prevention program.