The operation involving 45 police forces across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have saved more than 400 children across the UK.
Some of those arrested had unsupervised access to children in the course of their work. They include doctors, teachers, scout leaders, care workers and former police officers.
Of the 660, 39 people were Registered Sex Offenders but the majority of those arrested had not previously come to law enforcement's attention.
The operation targeted people accessing indecent images of children online. It has stayed covert in order to protect children, identify offenders and secure evidence.
NCA Deputy Director General Phil Gormley said "This is the first time the UK has had the capability to coordinate a single targeted operation of this nature. Our aim was to protect children who were victims of, or might be at risk of, sexual exploitation. A child is victimized not only when they are abused and an image is taken. They are re-victimized every time that image is viewed by someone".
"Some of the people who start by accessing indecent images online go on to abuse children directly. So the operation is not only about catching people who have already offended - it is about influencing potential offenders before they cross that line. 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".
British pedophiles was recently found paying to watch the live streaming of child sex abuse through Skype taking place in Asia as proliferation of indecent images of children doubled in UK in 2012.
Police investigators have found that in 2012, Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre received 8,000 reports of indecent images of children being shared, featuring 70,000 still images and videos - a two-fold increase on previous years
Live streaming of child abuse footage is emerging as a growing method of abusers sharing indecent images and videos.
There are growing concerns over the use of the hidden internet; UK daily users connecting to secret or encrypted networks increased by two thirds, one of the largest annual increases globally.
CEOP expects 20,000 daily UK users by the end of this year (although not all of these will use the hidden internet for criminal means)
There has been a 70% increase in the number of female victims under 10 years old
Shockingly investigations have also revealed a 125% increase in the number of level 4 images (Sentencing Council classification) - penetrative sexual activity involving a child or children, or both children and adults
The Threat Assessment of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (TACSEA) investigations have identified the use of the 'hidden internet' and the live streaming of abuse as new ways that offenders are sexually abusing children.
Other key findings show that approximately 190,000 UK children (1 in 58) will suffer contact sexual abuse by a non-related adult before turning 18, with approximately 10,000 new child victims of contact sexual abuse being reported in the UK each year.
Figures from 25 police forces revealed 2,120 lone perpetrators and 31 forces reported 65 groups or gang related offences. A number of offenders have been identified as targeting teenagers and young adults on the basis of their vulnerability rather than due to a specific sexual interest in children.
Figures from police forces show that the majority of offenders were categorized as Asian, and 97% involved white victims.
Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the National Policing Lead for Child Protection and Abuse Investigations, said "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. 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 sexual abuse by parents and family members".
0 comments:
Post a Comment