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More than 500 potential victims of child abuse identified and 77 charged after Police Scotland investigation More than 500 potential victims of child abuse identified and 77 charged after Police Scotland investigation
(35 minutes later)
More than 500 potential victims of child abuse have been identified and 77 people have been charged following a major investigation into online sex abuse by Police Scotland. More than 500 potential victims of child abuse have been identified and 77 people have been charged following a major investigation into online sex abuse by Police Scotland.
The charges include sharing indecent images, of which 30 million were found, as well as rape and grooming of children for sexual purposes. The charges include rape, grooming of children for sexual purposes, and sharing indecent images, of which 30 million were found after 547 computers and other devices were seized.
The investigation, called Operation Latisse, took place between 6 June and 15 July. The national investigation, called Operation Lattise, is the first of its kind to take place in Scotland and was carried out over six weeks between 6 June and 15 July.
Some of the 523 potential victims were as young as three years old, and 122 of them have been referred to child protection services, according to the BBC. It involved 134 separate inquiries, and Police Scotland has said many of the investigations are still ongoing.
More to follow... "Online child sexual abuse is a national threat – the reality is it is happening now, not only in Scotland but across the world, to children of all ages, from infants to teenagers," said Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham in a statement.
“Operation Lattise was about shining a light on the scale of this issue," he said.
"It was focused activity to tackle the many forms of online child sexual abuse by identifying those who pose a risk to children online and, more importantly, identifying victims of online sexual abuse and exploitation, as well as preventing more youngsters becoming victims."
Some of the 523 children identified as victims or potential victims of abuse were as young as three years old, and 122 of them have been referred to child protection services.
The police were able to use covert technology to identify potential paedophiles using websites, chatrooms and forums to contact children, and track their location, Detective Inspector Andy McWilliam told the BBC.
“These men – and it is predominantly men – are using the profiles of younger children to groom them and offend against them,” he said.
“Whether they throw the computer in the bath or not, we can find what they have looked at."
A report released last month by the children's charity the NSPCC revealed paedophiles in England are using the internet to commit an average of eight sex crimes a day and are targeting children as young as one.