UK
police arrest 660 suspected paedophiles
National Crime Agency detains suspected child abusers,
including doctors and teachers, and takes more than 400 children into care
Thirty-nine of those arrested were registered sex offenders
but the majority of suspects were off the police’s radar. Photograph: Joe
Giddens/PA
More
than 600 suspected paedophiles, including doctors and teachers, have been
arrested across Britain after a six-month investigation led by the National
Crime Agency.
The
agency, dubbed Britain's FBI, announced on Wednesday it had arrested 660
suspected child abusers and taken more than 400 children into care in the first
nationwide investigation of its kind.
Of
the 660 arrested, 39 were registered sex offenders but the vast majority of
suspected paedophiles were off the police's radar. Those arrested include
doctors, teachers, scout leaders, care workers and former police officers.
The
operation, which had remained secret until Wednesday, targeted people accessing
indecent images of children online.
Phil
Gormley, the NCA deputy director general, said: "This is the first time the
UK has had the capability to coordinate a single targeted operation of this
nature.
"Over
the past six months we have seen unprecedented levels of cooperation to deliver
this result."
One
of those arrested and subsequently charged was a doctor who allegedly kept more
than 1m images of child abuse on his computers and had arranged to meet boys.
In
another case, a foster carer with no previous convictions or allegations of
offending was caring for a vulnerable child when he was arrested. Four
computers and one phone have been seized by police and the suspect has
attempted serious self-harm, detectives said.
Gormley
said the police operation was about influencing potential offenders before they
"cross the line" from accessing indecent images to directly sexually
abusing children.
"Our
aim was to protect children who were victims of, or might be at risk of, sexual
exploitation. A child is victimised not only when they are abused and an image
is taken. They are re-victimised every time that image is viewed by
someone," he said.
"We
want those offenders to know that the internet is not a safe anonymous space
for accessing indecent images, that they leave a digital footprint, and that
law enforcement will find it."
Chief
constable Simon Bailey, the national policing lead for child protection and
abuse investigations, said the vast majority of forces in England and Wales
were dealing with an unprecedented increase in the number of reports of child
sexual abuse.
He
said: "Sexual abuse is a complex crime taking many forms. Forces are
investigating exploitation of children and young people by groups and gangs,
non-recent abuse including large-scale investigations into abuse in
institutions over many years and sexusal abuse by parents and family members.
"During
this operation we've targeted offenders accessing child abuse images. Police
must continue to use a range of investigative techniques targeting all forms of
abuse if we are going to protect children and bring offenders to justice. Chief
officers are committed using all the tools available to them because nothing is
more important in policing than protecting vulnerable people."
Another
suspect admitted when interviewed by police that he had viewed child abuse
images for three decades, since he was 16. The man also admitted that he
travelled to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand "for sexual purposes".
Detectives
said that one suspect was part of an online group that shared films in which he
abused a child, including footage featuring "the most serious form of
abuse against very young children".
Another
suspect, whom police described as a registered and violent sexual offender, was
already being prosecuted over the rape of a 13-year-old girl when police
officers discovered a stash of child abuse images at his home. The images
displayed a wide range of abuse, police said, ranging from "erotic posing
through to the most severe forms of abuse".
Greg
McGill, the head of organised crime for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS),
said: "These abhorrent offences only contribute to the cycle of harm
suffered by the victims in such cases. Specialist CPS prosecutors continue to
work with the NCA, police partners and other relevant agencies in the fight
against child sexual abuse and exploitation.
"We
are committed to helping safeguard young people and, wherever we are able to,
we will prosecute where there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public
interest."
Donald
Findlater, the director of research and development at the Lucy Faithfull
Foundation and Stop it Now!, said: "The Stop it Now sexual abuse
prevention line is taking an increasing number of calls from men who are
concerned about their online behaviour as well as from their families and
friends. Thousands of men have called following their arrest for possession of
indecent images of children. Thousands of (mostly) women have called because of
a partner's arrest or simply because of a concern about their partner's sexual
behaviour towards children."
The
Stop it Now helpline provides confidential advice, support and help to try to
keep children safe. It supports those who have offended online to take
responsibility for abusive behaviour and advises their family and friends on
how to manage future risk.
Findlater
said: "However many are arrested for possession of indecent images, there
are hundreds of thousands more who have viewed such images and have not yet
been arrested.
"We
urge all such men – young and old alike – to contact the helpline for help to
stop their illegal and harmful behaviour.
"Not
only do children continue to be harmed by this inappropriate use of their
images, but also the offender risks losing friends, family, job, reputation and
more should their offending come to light. Call 0808 1000 900 for confidential
help before it is too late."
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