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Scout leader and foster carer among 59 suspected paedophiles Scout leader and foster carer among 59 suspected paedophiles
(35 minutes later)
A scout leader, a foster carer, an ex-police officer and a social service manager are among 59 people arrested in Wales as part of a major UK-wide operation carried out against suspected paedophiles.A scout leader, a foster carer, an ex-police officer and a social service manager are among 59 people arrested in Wales as part of a major UK-wide operation carried out against suspected paedophiles.
The six-month-long operation targeted people accessing indecent images of children online.The six-month-long operation targeted people accessing indecent images of children online.
Several of those arrested had unsupervised access to children.Several of those arrested had unsupervised access to children.
Across the UK 660 people were arrested and more than 400 children safeguarded.Across the UK 660 people were arrested and more than 400 children safeguarded.
The 59 arrests all took place in Wales and of those, two were registered sex offenders. The 59 arrests all took place in Wales and of those, two were registered sex offenders and two are thought to have killed themselves, according to police.
So far, 12 people have been charged with offences of possession and distribution indecent images of children.So far, 12 people have been charged with offences of possession and distribution indecent images of children.
South Wales Police has overseen the operation covering its own area along with Dyfed-Powys and Gwent police force areas, while North Wales Police worked separately.South Wales Police has overseen the operation covering its own area along with Dyfed-Powys and Gwent police force areas, while North Wales Police worked separately.
It says 42 children have been protected, and 16 more safeguarded - referred to social services.It says 42 children have been protected, and 16 more safeguarded - referred to social services.
'Unprecedented increase''Unprecedented increase'
South Wales Police assistant chief constable for specialist crime, Nikki Holland, said: "This has been a huge operation where we have targeted numerous offenders accessing child abuse images. South Wales Police assistant chief constable for specialist crime, Nikki Holland, said there had been two suicides among the people arrested in the South Wales, Dyfed-Powys and Gwent force areas.
"The majority of these people may have thought they were operating under the radar but we were able to identify them and this sends a strong message to other offenders - you will be caught. She said of the people arrested: "They have come from all force areas and all walks of life. Only two were registered sex offenders.
"Nationally we have seen an unprecedented increase in the number of reports of sexual abuse of children and our primary aim is to protect children who were victims of, or might be at risk of, sexual exploitation. "[The others] may have come to the attention of the police for other matters but nothing involving child abuse.
"That's going to be a great concern to the police and other agencies.
"A key message from the police in this operation is it clearly demonstrates that we can police the internet and people can't go on the internet and view child images without being caught."
There were no patterns to the offending among the people arrested, she said, adding: "We have not found paedophile rings."
'Footprints'
Ms Holland referred to the "dark web", or content that does not appear in normal search engines, as "the seedy side of the internet, the child porn".
"Clearly people who are that way inclined are going to go there," she said.
"You are not anonymous on the internet. You will leave footprints and you will be caught, so don't even try."
She urged parents to ensure their children were using the internet safely and that they had adequate controls on their computers.
"Know what your children are doing, and protect your children," she advised.
She said nationally there had been an "unprecedented increase" in the number of reports of sexual abuse of children.
"Children are victimised not only when they are abused and an image is first taken. They are victimised repeatedly every time that image is viewed."Children are victimised not only when they are abused and an image is first taken. They are victimised repeatedly every time that image is viewed.
"We also know that people who start by accessing indecent images online can then go on to abuse children directly."We also know that people who start by accessing indecent images online can then 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.""So the operation is not only about catching people who have already offended - it is about influencing potential offenders before they cross that line."
She added: "Offenders need 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."
Det Ch Supt Wayne Jones from North Wales Police said the force's primary objective was to protect children.Det Ch Supt Wayne Jones from North Wales Police said the force's primary objective was to protect children.
The whole operation was co-ordinated by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and involved 45 police forces across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.The whole operation was co-ordinated by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and involved 45 police forces across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
NCA deputy director general Phil Gormley said the actives of paedophiles targeted were "pervasive" and covered a "broad range".NCA deputy director general Phil Gormley said the actives of paedophiles targeted were "pervasive" and covered a "broad range".
He said images of abusive were being distributed on both the open and so-called dark web where sophisticated software is used to route internet traffic through servers to hide its origins. He said images of abuse were being distributed on both the open and so-called dark web where sophisticated software is used to route internet traffic through servers to hide its origins.