Police in Scotland have identified more than 500 children as potential victims of online sexual abuse with as many as 30 million pornographic images seized during a crackdown operation.
The revelation was made after the Scottish police launched a series of investigations dubbed Operation Latisse, which has resulted in the apprehension of 77 people charged with rape, sharing indecent images of children and sexual extortion.
The six-week operation was conducted between 6 June and 15 July, and involved 134 investigations which identified 523 victims or potential victims, aged between three and 18, of sexual harassment online.
“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 Malcolm Graham, Assistant Chief Constable of Police Scotland.
“Operation Lattise was about shining a light on the scale of this issue. It was…