National Crime Agency detains suspected child abusers, including doctors and teachers, and takes more than 400 children into care
More than 600 suspected paedophiles, including doctors and teachers, have been arrested across Britain after a six-month investigation led by the National Crime Agency.
The agency, dubbed Britain’s FBI, announced on Wednesday it had arrested 660 suspected child abusers and taken more than 400 children into care in the first nationwide investigation of its kind.
Of the 660 arrested, 39 were registered sex offenders but the vast majority of suspected paedophiles were off the police’s radar. Those arrested include doctors, teachers, scout leaders, care workers and former police officers.
The operation, which had remained secret until Wednesday, targeted people accessing indecent images of children online.
Phil Gormley, the NCA deputy director general, said: “This is the first time the UK has had the capability to coordinate a single targeted operation of this nature.
“Over the past six months we have seen unprecedented levels of cooperation to deliver this result.”
One of those arrested and subsequently charged was a doctor who allegedly kept more than 1m images of child abuse on his computers and had arranged to meet boys.
In another case, a foster carer with no previous convictions or allegations of offending was caring for a vulnerable child when he was arrested. Four computers and one phone have been seized by police and the suspect has attempted serious self-harm, detectives said.
Gormley said the police operation was about influencing potential offenders before they “cross the line” from accessing indecent images to directly sexually abusing children.