‘Unprecedented’ UK-wide operation nets paedophiles

An unprecedented six-month operation coordinated by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and involving 45 police forces across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland has led to the arrest of 660 suspected paedophiles, including two former police officers.

The operation resulted in 400 children across the UK being safeguarded.

The NCA said some of those arrested had unsupervised access to children, including doctors, teachers, scout leaders and care workers.

Of the 660, 39 people were registered sex offenders but the majority were not previously known to law enforcement.

The operation targeted people accessing indecent images of children online. Charges range from possessing indecent images of children to serious sexual assault.

NCA Deputy Director General Phil Gormley said it 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,” he said. “Our aim was to protect children who were victims of, or might be at risk of, sexual exploitation. The operation was not only about catching people who have already offended – it was about influencing potential offenders before they cross that line.”

He warned offenders that they leave a ‘digital footprint’ and that law enforcement will find it.

The national policing lead for child protection and abuse investigations, Chief Constable Simon Bailey, said police must continue to use a range of investigative techniques targeting all forms of abuse if they are going to protect children and bring offenders to justice.

“Sexual abuse is a complex crime taking many forms. The vast majority of forces around England and Wales are dealing with an unprecedented increase in the number of reports of sexual abuse of children,” he explained.