More than 500 children have been identified as potential victims of online sexual abuse during a major investigation by Police Scotland. The force said 30 million indecent images were seized and 77 people had been charged during Operation Lattise.
The charges include rape, sharing indecent images of children and grooming for sexual purposes. Of the 523 potential victims, some as young as three, 122 have been referred to child protection services.
The operation, which involved 134 separate investigations, was carried out between the 6 June and 15 July.
Police said child victims had been found after the homes of 83 suspects were searched and 547 computers and other devices seized during the five-week operation.
‘Horrific acts’
Almost 400 charges have been brought so far, including rape, sharing indecent images of children, grooming for sexual purposes, sexual extortion, indecent communication with children, possession of a firearm, bestiality and drugs offences.
In one instance, a computer that featured 10 million images depicting child abuse was found. Police Scotland said it would take four full-time officers six months just to view the number of images uncovered.
The investigation involved officers analysing in excess of 100,000 online chat logs.
Examination of one device led officers to conclude that one adult suspect had been sexually communicating with more than 110 children and young people.
Det Insp Andy McWilliam, who was also involved in the investigation, said that new technology meant there was no way for perpetrators to hide or erase what they had done online.
He said: “Whether they throw the computer in the bath or not, we can find what they have looked at. And we can use covert technology to identify who you are and where you are.
- Communique by Director General Health Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) 21st January 2020
- New Coronavirus in China – Number of Deaths Double
- Outbreak or Respiratory Disease in Wuhan China
- P SP, GNR and SEF received over 12 thousand weapons and close to 16 thousand equipment since 2017
- Resolution of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of Azores No. 1/2020 / A
- Tridente” submarine goes on “discreet” mission to combat drug and human trafficking
- Gibraltar – Police arrest nearly 50 people in massive migrant smuggling operation
- Parliament approves two votes of condolence for victims of domestic violence
- Seven persons detained for trafficking in 3.5 tonnes of hashish by sea
- INEM – 1.3 million calls received in 2019
- Send bushfire donations only to licensed charities to avoid being scammed
- Police organize national meeting today to decide January 21 protests
- Re-evaluation of magnitude of 1755 Lisbon Earthquake
- Despite rain one third of country still in drought
- Meeting between Secretary of State for Internal Administration and Safe Communities Portugal
