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Dozens arrested in paedophile abuse raids Dozens arrested in paedophile abuse raids
(40 minutes later)
A retired teacher, members of the armed forces and a scout leader are among 78 people arrested in raids targeting online paedophiles.A retired teacher, members of the armed forces and a scout leader are among 78 people arrested in raids targeting online paedophiles.
About 140 search warrants were issued by some 40 forces during the UK-wide raids, led by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.About 140 search warrants were issued by some 40 forces during the UK-wide raids, led by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.
Most warrants related to downloading and sharing indecent images.Most warrants related to downloading and sharing indecent images.
Some 80 children were removed from harm, including 20 found at raided properties.Some 80 children were removed from harm, including 20 found at raided properties.
'Children safeguarded' The raids come as the government sets out a draft bill to allow details of internet use in the UK to be stored for a year - enabling intelligence services to keep track of crime with modern technology.
The raids come as the government sets out a draft bill to allow details of internet use in the UK to be stored for a year - to enable intelligence services to keep track of crime with modern technology. Operation Tharsley was carried out over 48 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the support of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca).
Operation Tharsley was carried out over 48-hours on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the support of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca). Sex offender breaches
Known offenders who had breached the conditions of the sex offenders register were also arrested during the raids. Those arrested include a pathologist, a firefighter, an outdoor activities instructor, government employees, a computer programmer, and a referee.
Others held include a pathologist, a firefighter, an outdoor activities instructor, government employees, a computer programmer, and a referee. Known offenders who had breached the conditions of the sex offenders register were also held.
Forces around the UK made the following arrests: Forty-two forces from around the UK made the following arrests:
  • Two men were held in Northern Ireland
  • Police in Dorset made two arrests
  • In Kent, four men were arrested in Maidstone, Gillingham, Rochester and Herne Bay
  • North Yorkshire Police made four arrests in Scarborough, Harrogate, Stokesley, and the Whitby area
  • Two men from County Durham - a 46-year-old from Bishop Auckland and another, 55, from Peterlee
  • Northumbria Police arrested four men - three from Gateshead, and one from Washington, near Sunderland
  • Devon and Cornwall Police made three arrests - two in Cornwall and one in Plymouth
  • Gloucestershire officers arrested a 68-year-old man from Newent
  • In Wiltshire, a 46-year-old man was arrested in Swindon, while a 28-year-old man was held in Great Bedwyn
  • West Midlands Police said they had raided six addresses over the past two days. Three people were arrested and four children "safeguarded" by officers in Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Solihull, Sandwell and Dudley
  • Two arrests were made by police in the Thames Valley
  • Jersey Police arrested a 20-year-old man
  • Strathclyde Police confirmed the arrest of three people
  • Sussex Police arrested a 43-year-old man from Bexhill
  • Four men were held by officers in Hampshire
  • A 40-year-old man was arrested near Lincoln on Tuesday, and a 57-year-old man in the Sleaford area
  • Cumbria Police executed a search warrant at a house in Carlisle and seized computer equipment, but no arrests were made
Abuse link
  • Two men were held in Northern Ireland
  • Police in Dorset made two arrests
  • In Kent, four men were arrested in Maidstone, Gillingham, Rochester and Herne Bay
  • North Yorkshire Police made four arrests in Scarborough, Harrogate, Stokesley, and the Whitby area
  • Two men from County Durham - a 46-year-old from Bishop Auckland and another, 55, from Peterlee
  • Northumbria Police arrested four men - three from Gateshead, and one from Washington, near Sunderland
  • Devon and Cornwall Police made three arrests - two in Cornwall and one in Plymouth
  • Gloucestershire officers arrested a 68-year-old man from Newent
  • In Wiltshire, a 46-year-old man was arrested in Swindon, while a 28-year-old man was held in Great Bedwyn
  • West Midlands Police said they had raided six addresses over the past two days. Three people were arrested and four children "safeguarded" by officers in Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Solihull, Sandwell and Dudley
  • Two arrests were made by police in the Thames Valley
  • Jersey Police arrested a 20-year-old man
  • Strathclyde Police confirmed the arrest of three people
  • Sussex Police arrested a 43-year-old man from Bexhill
  • Four men were held by officers in Hampshire
  • A 40-year-old man was arrested near Lincoln on Tuesday, and a 57-year-old man in the Sleaford area
  • Cumbria Police executed a search warrant at a house in Carlisle and seized computer equipment, but no arrests were made
Abuse link
Officers across the UK seized laptop computers, USB storage devices and external hard drives, digital cameras and other items capable of storing pictures, according to Andy Baker, deputy chief executive at Ceop. Officers seized laptop computers, USB storage devices and external hard drives, digital cameras and other items capable of storing pictures, according to Andy Baker, deputy chief executive at Ceop.
Mr Baker explained that pictures would be scrutinised to see if victims could be identified using clues in the background.Mr Baker explained that pictures would be scrutinised to see if victims could be identified using clues in the background.
"Every image is a crime scene", he said. "We need to identify that crime scene." "Every image is a crime scene," he said. "We need to identify that crime scene."
Meanwhile, Ceop has published a report on the risk posed by people who download indecent images of children.Meanwhile, Ceop has published a report on the risk posed by people who download indecent images of children.
Their analysis showed 55% of those who deliberately obtain images of abuse also go on to commit sex attacks against children. They pointed to analysis showing 55% of those who deliberately obtain images of abuse also go on to commit sex attacks against children.
'Extreme, sadistic, violent'
Principal analyst at Ceop, Kate Fisher, said that abusive images downloaded via the internet were increasingly becoming "more extreme, sadistic and violent, and feature increasingly younger children".Principal analyst at Ceop, Kate Fisher, said that abusive images downloaded via the internet were increasingly becoming "more extreme, sadistic and violent, and feature increasingly younger children".
Ceop called for police forces to prioritise investigating suspects who had easy access to children.Ceop called for police forces to prioritise investigating suspects who had easy access to children.
Christian Sjoberg, chief executive of NetClean - which aims to prevent the spread of child sexual abuse content - welcomed the report.Christian Sjoberg, chief executive of NetClean - which aims to prevent the spread of child sexual abuse content - welcomed the report.
"As police cuts hit home and case volumes increase, crime fighting agents attempting to tackle the problem are finding their resources stretched to the limits," he said."As police cuts hit home and case volumes increase, crime fighting agents attempting to tackle the problem are finding their resources stretched to the limits," he said.
"There is no doubt that advanced technology and sophisticated internet use makes the job of child protection increasingly complex, but technology can also hold the key to finding and preventing those who create and distribute this kind of material.""There is no doubt that advanced technology and sophisticated internet use makes the job of child protection increasingly complex, but technology can also hold the key to finding and preventing those who create and distribute this kind of material."