42 Police Forces Carry Out Raid On Suspected Paedophiles

A series of raids of suspected internet paedophiles have been carried out across the UK involving more than 40 police forces.

Led by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop), several people have been arrested in the raids which have taken place over the past 48 hours.

A spokeswoman for Ceop said: "There have been a number of warrants that have been executed and a number of arrests that have been made."

Ceop also published a report on Thursday on the risk posed by people who possess indecent images of children and recommendations about how police can protect children.

The specialist police child protection unit warns that anyone caught downloading child abuse images online poses a risk of committing physical sex attacks on children.

The deputy children's commissioner Sue Berelowitz told MPs her in-depth study of the problem suggested there "isn't a town, village or hamlet in which children are not being sexually exploited".

Three people were arrested and four children "safeguarded" after 35 officers executed warrants across the West Midlands force area in Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Solihull, Sandwell and Dudley.

A 47-year-old man was arrested in Wolverhampton, a 37-year-old man was arrested in Dudley and a 38-year-old man was arrested in Sandwell, all on suspicion of downloading indecent images of children.

All three have been released on police bail with strict conditions pending further enquiries, a spokesman said, and computers were seized from all addresses.

(H)