Legal News

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has announced that 660 suspected paedophiles have been arrested in police raids, with some of those arrested described as having had “unsupervised access” to children in the course of their employment.

It is reported that among those arrested were teachers, doctors, care workers, former police officers and a Scoutmaster. Police seized computers in the raids, which targeted those suspected of sharing or downloading online indecent images of children.

As a result of the raids, police say they have safeguarded 431 children who might have been at risk from paedophile activities.

Police searched 833 homes and office premises in the operation, which was codenamed Notarise. The operation remained covert to protect children, said the NCA.

Out of the 660 arrested, just 39 were recorded on the Sex Offenders’ Register – the remaining suspects were not known previously to the police. Charges so far brought against some of those arrested include possessing indecent images of children and serious sexual assault.

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. Over the past six months, we have seen unprecedented levels of cooperation to deliver this result.

“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.

“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.

Mr Gormley said that the NCA wanted offenders to know that the Internet “is not a safe, anonymous space for accessing indecent images”. He said child abuse offenders needed to realise that they left a digital footprint – and that law enforcement would find it.

The head of online safety at the NSPCC, Clare Lilley, said:

“This is an important, two-pronged operation which has rescued children from abuse – and also identified many previously unknown sex offenders.
“Direct action like this sends a strong message to those who subject children to harrowing sexual assaults that they can and will be traced and prosecuted.

“But law enforcement agencies alone cannot deal with the vast problem of illegal images which continue to flood the market.

“Industry has to find inventive ways of blocking the flow of such horrendous pictures, which are only produced through the suffering of defenceless children – many of whom are not even old enough to go to school.

“So while this operation must be rightly applauded, we should view it as yet another warning sign that far more needs to be done if we are to stem the sordid trade in these images, which are often used by those who go on to abuse children.”

The public can report concerns about a child or young person through the CEOP safety centre at www.ceop.police.uk.

Children or young people can also use the CEOP safety centre at www.ceop.police.uk to report any incident online or offline, which has made them feel uncomfortable or at risk of abuse or exploitation.

Duncan Lewis Crime Lawyers

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of crime lawyers and can advise those arrested on suspicion of child sex abuse charges at any stage of a charge, including charges relating to the manufacture, possession, sharing or downloading of indecent images.

For expert legal advice on criminal charges and representation, call Duncan Lewis crime lawyers on 020 7923 4020.

For out-of-hours legal advice on criminal charges, contact the Duncan Lewis Crime Lawyers Out-of-Hours Hotline on 07920 077057.

Duncan Lewis is also a leading firm of children law and family solicitors and can advise families and individuals on child abuse and domestic violence in the home under both UK law and Islamic law.

For expert legal advice on child abuse within the home, call Duncan Lewis children solicitors on 020 7923 4020.

For confidential legal help with domestic violence, call the Duncan Lewis Domestic Violence Solicitors’ Helpline on 07920 077054.