Raids over child porn claims

Lincolnshire Assistant Chief Constable Roger Bannister says he took part in raids on suspected internet paedophiles yesterday.

"It's actually relatively straightforward to indentify men who, through an internet connection - often a laptop or another kind of computer at home, access these kinds of indecent images of children," he says.

"We identify them...and then we arrest the individual."

Some 76 people have been arrested during 48 hours of raids as part of an operation targeting suspected internet paedophiles.

A Scout leader, a retired teacher and members of the Armed Services were among those detained by officers from more than 40 police forces, who executed more than 141 search warrants in the operation led by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop).

Most of the warrants related to image offences, including the possession and distribution of indecent images of children, Ceop said.

More than 40 police forces have been involved in raids as part of an operation targeting suspected internet paedophiles.

Several people have been arrested in the raids which have taken place over the last 48 hours in the operation led by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop).

A spokeswoman for Ceop said there have been two days of "operational activity" involving more than 40 forces across the UK.

"There have been a number of warrants that have been executed and a number of arrests that have been made," she said.

Ceop is today publishing a report on the risk posed by people who possess indecent images of children and recommendations about how police can protect children.

A child Internet safety conference takes place today to raise awareness of the current dangers for children on the web.

Daybreak speaks to mum-of-two Genny Jones and Technology Expert Kate Russell.

There is a direct link between possessing child abuse images and carrying out sexual attacks on children, a specialist police child protection unit has said.

The report carried out by The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (Ceop) "highlights the need to consider each possession offender as a potential contact offender to some extent."

A study of almost 100 case studies from 34 forces found offenders who both possessed child abuse images and attacked children were "almost exclusively white males", with most aged between 19 and 45.

Those not in work, and possibly therefore those with high levels of internet usage, those working in schools or care work, and those in manual and manufacturing jobs made up most of the sample, the report said.

• A charity has revealed that although 94 percent of children know how to protect themselves online, 51 percent have read something that upset them and was inappropriate.
• The charity Childline also found that cyber bullying is the most common problem to affect children online.

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (Ceop) centre has urged police forces to prioritise the investigation of anyone caught with child abuse images who has easy access to children.

A child Internet safety conference takes place today to raise awareness of the current dangers for children on the web.

CEOP, the child protection agency, warns that abusive images are becoming more extreme, sadistic and violent.