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Child abuse image investigation leads to 660 arrests Child abuse image investigation leads to 660 arrests
(about 1 hour later)
More than 650 suspected paedophiles have been arrested as part of a six-month operation targeting people accessing child abuse images online.More than 650 suspected paedophiles have been arrested as part of a six-month operation targeting people accessing child abuse images online.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) said the 660 arrested included doctors, teachers, scout leaders, care workers and former police officers.The National Crime Agency (NCA) said the 660 arrested included doctors, teachers, scout leaders, care workers and former police officers.
More than 400 children have been protected as a result, the agency said.More than 400 children have been protected as a result, the agency said.
Arrests were made across the UK and the majority of those held had no previous contact with police.Arrests were made across the UK and the majority of those held had no previous contact with police.
The NCA said 39 of those arrested are registered sex offenders.The NCA said 39 of those arrested are registered sex offenders.
Charges already brought range from possessing indecent images of children to serious sexual assault.Charges already brought range from possessing indecent images of children to serious sexual assault.
The NCA stressed that none of those arrested is a serving or former MP or member of the government.The NCA stressed that none of those arrested is a serving or former MP or member of the government.
Examples of those arrested include:Examples of those arrested include:
The NCA said 431 children "in the care, custody or control" of the suspects had been protected as a result of the arrests.The NCA said 431 children "in the care, custody or control" of the suspects had been protected as a result of the arrests.
Of those, 127 were said to be at immediate risk of harm.Of those, 127 were said to be at immediate risk of harm.
AnalysisAnalysis
By Danny Shaw, BBC home affairs correspondentBy Danny Shaw, BBC home affairs correspondent
When the National Crime Agency was formed it was given unique powers to co-ordinate investigations and task police forces to carry out inquiries.When the National Crime Agency was formed it was given unique powers to co-ordinate investigations and task police forces to carry out inquiries.
Now we can see the impact that's having - with every UK force involved in Operation Notarise. But, as police have warned, it will take far more than arrests to grip the problem of online abuse.Now we can see the impact that's having - with every UK force involved in Operation Notarise. But, as police have warned, it will take far more than arrests to grip the problem of online abuse.
The vast majority of websites which host indecent material operate from overseas; some of them, on the so-called "dark net", are more difficult to identify.The vast majority of websites which host indecent material operate from overseas; some of them, on the so-called "dark net", are more difficult to identify.
There is also a growing trade in swapping and paying for indecent material via organised criminal gangs. Only last month the head of the Virtual Global Taskforce told BBC News it was an "epidemic".There is also a growing trade in swapping and paying for indecent material via organised criminal gangs. Only last month the head of the Virtual Global Taskforce told BBC News it was an "epidemic".
It is clear Operation Notarise is only a small part of the efforts to deal with the problem.It is clear Operation Notarise is only a small part of the efforts to deal with the problem.
The BBC's Tom Symonds said the NCA had been secretive about the methods used to catch the suspected paedophiles.The BBC's Tom Symonds said the NCA had been secretive about the methods used to catch the suspected paedophiles.
But officers had told him it was a breakthrough in the way intelligence was used and passed between the various police forces rather than a technological advance.But officers had told him it was a breakthrough in the way intelligence was used and passed between the various police forces rather than a technological advance.
'Dark net''Dark net'
NCA deputy director general Phil Gormley said sex offenders should understand they cannot avoid detection while using the internet, even on the so-called "dark net".NCA deputy director general Phil Gormley said sex offenders should understand they cannot avoid detection while using the internet, even on the so-called "dark net".
The "dark net" refers to content that does not appear in normal search engines and users often use virtual currencies to avoid detection. According to the Internet Watch Foundation, less than 1% of its content is hosted in the UK.The "dark net" refers to content that does not appear in normal search engines and users often use virtual currencies to avoid detection. According to the Internet Watch Foundation, less than 1% of its content is hosted in the UK.
Mr Gormley added: "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 told BBC News the NCA would "look at the learning from this operation".
"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." "We've now got the opportunity to understand the methodology, the techniques employed by people who are operating on the internet in this way - and their motivation."
The investigation involved 45 police forces across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and saw "unprecedented level of co-operation," the NCA added. He said some of those arrested were "in positions of trust".
"It is not surprising on some levels that people who have this sort of interest may try and position themselves where they've got access to children."
That was why were there were safeguards and procedures "around people who want to work or interact with young people", he said, adding: "No system can ever be 100% secure."
Joined-up approach
The investigation involved 45 police forces across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and saw "unprecedented level of co-operation," the NCA said.
Officers have searched 833 properties and examined 9,172 computers, phones and hard drives.Officers have searched 833 properties and examined 9,172 computers, phones and hard drives.
Susie Hargreaves, chief executive of the Internet Watch Foundation charity, hailed the NCA's "joined-up approach", saying the scale of the operation was "really quite impressive".
"These are new people, they're not people with a previous history of looking at these images," she told BBC News.
"It just goes to show that, actually, if you're out there, you're looking at the images, you're doing something criminal - it's not a victimless crime."
Targeted offendersTargeted offenders
No regional breakdown has been published. But police in Wales said 51 people had been arrested there as part of the operation. In Scotland, the figure was 13. And in Northern Ireland there were 14. No full regional breakdown of arrests have been published.
In the West Midlands there were 41 arrests, while there were 26 arrests in Merseyside. Devon and Cornwall police arrested 22. And Staffordshire Police arrested 19. But individual police forces have revealed that:
'Horrendous pictures'
The national policing lead for child protection and abuse, Chief Constable Simon Bailey, said: "During this operation, we've targeted offenders accessing child abuse images.The national policing lead for child protection and abuse, Chief Constable Simon Bailey, said: "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 going to protect children and bring offenders to justice."Police must continue to use a range of investigative techniques targeting all forms of abuse if we 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"."Chief officers are committed using all the tools available to them because nothing is more important in policing than protecting vulnerable people".
Claire Lilley, head of online safety at the NSPCC said the operation had rescued children from abuse.Claire Lilley, head of online safety at the NSPCC said the operation had rescued children from abuse.
But she added: "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 who are not even old enough to go to school.But she added: "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 who 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.""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."