Parents told to be vigilant after police find online paedophiles

Hamish Hutchinson • Published 25 Nov 2009 12:56

AN INVESTIGATION by Central Scotland Police has led to the identification of over 200 men who were engaged in exchanging sexually explicit material online with children as young as eight.

Officers are warning parents they need to be vigilant in order to prevent their children falling pray to online criminals after they examined 4000 chat logs on social networking sites such as Bebo and MSN as part of Operation Pincer.

This led to the identification of more than 2000 email addresses used by men for sexual purposes and contact with children and teenagers.

Of the 215 found to be engaged in criminal activity, 15 were arrested for more serious offences including grooming charges, serious sexual assaults and even rape.

The investigation uncovered criminal activity not only in Forth Valley but also in the UK and abroad. Central Scotland Police liaised with other police forces and law enforcement agencies including the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre and Interpol.

Chief Superintendent Gordon Mackenzie, "What we have seen is young, unsuspecting children and teenagers using the internet and being targeted by men who are effectively grooming them for sexual purposes.

Sensitive

"What we are issuing today is a wake up call to parents, galvanising their support and making them think more firmly about looking at the multi media their kids are using, whether it is computers, lap tops, games consoles or memory sticks, all of which carry sensitive information parents aren't privy to or have seen.

"What we found out is that the victims are curious and fearless and that adults are pretty clueless when it comes to their children's use of multi media."

Mr Mackenzie added that the number of cases of adults using social network sites to gain access to children was much higher than officers expected and believes it is "the tip of the iceberg".

He said parents have to be vigilant and not allow their children unfettered access to the internet.

He went on, "Parents should be intrusive in a positive way around their children's internet use.

"Ask how they use the internet and who they communicate with, ask for their passwords, check what sites they are accessing, check their portable storage devices and cards including web and Bluetooth enabled phones.

"Only by having this kind of approach can parents effectively safeguard their children."

Detective Chief Inspector Gordon Dawson explained how predatory males, most aged between 19 and 30, can easily get email addresses of children from websites or from social network sites.

Whilst the conversations will start off being normal, they quickly turns into lurid sex chat, even when the victim clearly identifies themselves as a child.

For more information on how to protect children, parents can look at websites such as www.thinkuknow.gov.uk or www.ceop.gov.uk

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