22.07.2014
The investigation was assisted by information passed to British authorities by US law enforcement agencies, which recently secured the conviction of a couple who provided access to child abuse images via the internet. The names of more than 7,000 Britons appeared on their database.
According to the National Crime Agency, the suspects arrested during the six-month operation include doctors, former police officers, foster carers and teachers. The allegations range from possessing indecent images of children to serious sexual assault.
The investigation targeted individuals viewing indecent images of children online, with a specific focus on suspects who had unsupervised access to children as part of their profession.
Figures indicated that just 39 of the suspects arrested were registered sex offenders and the majority of them were not known by the police.
Officers overseeing the operation said 431 children at risk of abuse had been identified and steps have been taken to protect them.
Some Suspects Hold Trusted Positions
Police forces around the UK have arrested 660 suspected paedophiles in one of the biggest operations targeting online child abusers for more than a decade.The investigation was assisted by information passed to British authorities by US law enforcement agencies, which recently secured the conviction of a couple who provided access to child abuse images via the internet. The names of more than 7,000 Britons appeared on their database.
According to the National Crime Agency, the suspects arrested during the six-month operation include doctors, former police officers, foster carers and teachers. The allegations range from possessing indecent images of children to serious sexual assault.
The investigation targeted individuals viewing indecent images of children online, with a specific focus on suspects who had unsupervised access to children as part of their profession.
Figures indicated that just 39 of the suspects arrested were registered sex offenders and the majority of them were not known by the police.
Officers overseeing the operation said 431 children at risk of abuse had been identified and steps have been taken to protect them.
Expert Opinion
It is alarming that so many people in a position of trust, with unsupervised access to children, have been arrested for suspected sexual offences. We urge professional bodies and regulators of each profession to take notice of these figures and take action to improve standards and impose adequate safeguarding measures. <br/> <br/>“Increased training, improved policies and procedures and raising awareness of the problems would all be welcomed. Too many people’s lives have been ruined by abuse suffered at the hands of someone in a position of trust. <br/> <br/>“Our work helping victims of abuse to access the help they need for both the psychological and physical suffering they have endured means we have seen the misery that child abuse causes.” Luke Daniels - Partner
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