14/07/2004

45 arrested in internet child porn probe

Police investigating alleged child pornography offences have arrested 45 people in a number of raids at addresses across northern England.

Over 500 police officers from every division and CID from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) searched 50 addresses in the Greater Manchester area this morning in connection with the alleged accessing of indecent images of children on the Internet.

The warrants were executed at 7am at addresses on all divisions across the force area as part of Operation Baglan – an intelligence-led operation headed by GMP's Public Protection unit, which contains one of the country's leading Abusive Images units.

The distribution of arrests included: North Manchester (1); South Manchester (7); Salford (3); Tameside (4); Stockport (5); Bolton (6); and Wigan (7). Those arrested will be questioned throughout the day. A number of items have also been seized, including computers.

Detective Superintendent Steven Heywood, who is leading Operation Baglan, said that investigations had been going on for a number of weeks.

"This kind of activity is not tolerated in Greater Manchester and we will continue to work towards its elimination," he added.

"We have the country's leading pro-active abusive images unit and as this operation shows, we are robust in our quest to protect the public. I hope our actions will reassure members of the local communities, but if they have any concerns I would ask them contact their local police station."

Web users can leave behind "electronic footprints" when accessing illegal images, the majority when visiting websites. Software can also be used that allows others to access computers remotely and download images. The police probe has focused on attempting to trace such "footprints".

The investigation is concerned with all levels of abusive images; some known as level 5 sites – the most serious rating ascribed to indecent images.

(gmcg)

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