Online predators issued stark warning by team tackling child abuse & safeguarding hundreds of victims

A specialist team of detectives and staff that have investigated hundreds of crimes and safeguarded almost 200 children over the last 12 months have issued a stark warning to online predators that they have 'no hiding place' this Safer Internet Day (8 February).

GMP's Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) is just one of the teams within the force working to make the online world a safer space by relentlessly investigating the possession and exchanging of graphic images of child abuse, which over the last six months alone have led to 69 suspected offenders being prosecuted.

The unit also works alongside the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) to identify online offenders grooming children, sharing indecent images of children, and arranging to meet with other adults in order to sexually abuse children.

This is part of a co-ordinated local, regional and national focus to identify and arrest those using the internet to abuse and exploit children.  Last year this collaborative work resulted in the arrest of 195 people for child sex offences and more than 170 children were safeguarded.

The Online Child Abuse Investigation Team work in conjunction with NWROCU, but also carry out hundreds of other investigations to try and bring to justice those using the online world to contact and groom children for sexual gratification.

Using advanced technology, image analysis and facial matching, the OCAIT and Digital Investigation Unit also safeguard children who may have been exploited unbeknown to them by identifying them and putting the relevant safeguarding in place to protect them from becoming victims again. Over the last five years, over 600 children across the UK have been safeguarded.

Detective Inspector Suzanne Keenaghan leads the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team that work around the clock and work on what is sometimes on an international scale.

Speaking on Safer Internet Day 2022, she said: “The online world does not stop in Greater Manchester and children can be targeted by anyone, anywhere in the world. We deal with offenders nationally and internationally working collaboratively with UK and law enforcement agencies across the world to bring to justice any online predator who displays sexual interest in children.

"Ultimately, our joint goal is to ensure those using the internet with the aim of harming children are taken offline permanently - and my message to any online predator is that there is no hiding place; we will find you and you will be punished.

"Children and young people online can often be quite vulnerable and our job is to catch those predators online that target young people and attempt to engage with them for their own sexual gratification.

"The Online Child Abuse Investigation Team works day in day out alongside ROCU to catch perpetrators and putting together complex and sensitive evidential packages and taking offenders through the courts - leading to 195 arrests for suspected child sex offences last year alone.

"There are cases where we've seized computers, phones and hard drives and found footage and images of children who haven't yet been identified. Using cutting-edge technology - including image analysis and facial-matching - a team of officers, work to identify victims of sexual abuse and put the right safeguarding in place; over the last 12 months we've safeguarded 189 children."

DI Keenaghan added: "Safeguarding children is the number one priority for the team and we recognise that behind every image is a victim. In some cases we've investigated, parents and carers are completely unaware that their children have been targeted and the impact on families and friends is unimaginable.

"We're doing all we can to make sure the online world is a safer place - including expanding our team of detectives to enhance capabilities in the face of rising demand - but would encourage everyone to play their part in raising the risks and educating children of the dangers of being online.

“My team will not stop until they root out offenders who prey on children for their own sexual gratification. We are determined to make the internet a safer space for children and to take these offenders offline."

Anyone with concerns can access in-depth information and resources highlighting the dangers of sharing information online, as well as offering tips to staying safe while using the internet, by visiting saferinternetday.org or thinkuknow.co.uk.

Information can be passed to police online, if able, on www.gmp.police.uk or via 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Details can be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.