05-05-2020, 10:17 AM
The flushing out of the monsters continues...
Quote:Child abuse lockdown horror: Police arrest 45 and rescue 92 children in major operation.The Express:
'Police have arrested 45 suspected child offenders and safeguarded almost 100 children in the last
four weeks while the UK has been in lockdown, it has been announced.
The Metropolitan Police published statistics on Tuesday showing that 92 children in London deemed at
risk of being abused were protected by officers. Police warned of the increased threat posed by predators
and people are spending more time online due to the lockdown measures. In the month from March 23
when the lockdown was implemented, the Met executed 68 warrants.
And an average of 10 new investigations into suspected child abuse or exploitation were launched each week.
Detective Superintendent Helen Flanagan said: "Officers have been working around the clock since the
pandemic started using a variety of different tactics and resources to proactively identify and pursue online
offenders and protect children and young people.
"Anyone who tries to find and/or distribute indecent images of children online should not think they will be
less visible due to the lockdown - they can expect to come to police notice and face arrest, prosecution,
a criminal record and possible prison time.
"Online offenders can consider themselves less harmful than 'real life' abusers as they hide behind a screen,
but there is a vulnerable child at the heart of every indecent image or video and by viewing and distributing
these, the abuse is repeated over and over again."
Det Supt Flanagan stressed that the number of reports officers receive of suspected child abuse has not
increased. But she said the force expects reports to rise in the coming months when people emerge from
their homes after months on lockdown.
She said: "The Internet can be a great space for young people to connect, socialise and learn - but it is also
used by offenders as a place to engage with children and commit serious offences – grooming, abuse,
and other serious harm.
"The restrictions have led to a huge growth in Internet use, including by children doing school work or occupying
themselves while parents and carers are busy - and inevitably there are a greater number of sexual predators
online looking to target and groom young people."
This is a breaking news story. More to follow...
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