A second wave of raids and arrests has been made targeting online paedophiles. Last month 28 suspects were arrested and 40 raids carried out by Cheshire Police in a major operation into grooming of children.
Action was taken after a 400 per cent increase in the last four years in online viewing of indecent images of children in the county.
This week the second phase of Operation Guardians was carried out. The purpose was to target and deter predators, educate youngsters on signs of exploitation and staying safe online as well and to encourage people to report criminal behaviour. READ MORE: Forty raids and 28 suspects arrested in huge child abuse crackdown It saw the Constabulary’s online child abuse investigation team conduct an online undercover operation – working alongside the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit and National Crime Agency – and using the force’s new digital mobile forensics van to instantly check offenders’ devices.
In 2017 the force had 88 referrals regarding online child abuse. Last year it was 420. As a result its online child abuse investigation team has quadrupled in size from ten to 46 staff.
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