Northamptonshire Police have arrested a man as part of a nationwide operation to target the making and possession of indecent images of children.
Officers arrested a 37-year-old man in Corby yesterday as part of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre’s (CEOP’s) coordinated UK-wide police operation to crackdown on suspected child sexual offenders.
The arrest also formed part of Operation Gizmo, the force’s biggest ever investigation into the distribution of abusive images of children, and brings the total number of arrests under the ongoing operation to 20.
All were arrested on suspicion of possessing and distributing indecent images of children. Specialist officers are in the process of examining the material held on the large quantity of computer equipment seized during the search warrants.
Child Protection Team Sergeant Andy Blaize said: “Our intention is to protect children and we will continue to target those with a sexual interest in them.
“We will be unwavering in our determination to stop in their tracks anybody involved in this kind of activity.”
Across the country officers from more than 40 police forces executed more than 141 search warrants in the 48-hour operation. Around 80 children were “safeguarded” following the raids.
Among the 76 people arrested up and down the country were a referee, a pathologist, Government employees, a firefighter, an outdoor activities instructor and a computer programmer.
Known offenders who had breached the conditions of the Sex Offender’s Register were also arrested.