SEVEN suspected paedophiles have been arrested in Surrey as part of a national operation targeting child abuse.
As part of the National Crime Agency's (NCA) operation Notarise, 45 police forces arrested more than 650 suspects across the UK after six months of investigation.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Cundy, of the Surrey and Sussex Specialist Crime Command, said: "Working closely with the NCA we have identified and arrested those who use the internet to access indecent images of children. This operation aimed to protect children who are, or might be at risk of sexual exploitation. Those who access indecent images should know the internet is not anonymous and we will pursue you."
As a result of operation Notarise, six warrants were executed in Surrey with seven arrests for offences relating to the possession and/or sharing of indecent images of children.
In Surrey 72 computers and related items were seized along with thousands of other objects such as books, magazines, DVDs and cassettes.
Some of the 660 arrested nationwide included doctors, teachers, scout leaders, care workers and former police officers.The NCA says more than 400 children have been protected as a result of the operation.
The NCA's deputy director General Phil Gormley said: "Our aim was to protect children who were victims of, or might be at risk of, sexual exploitation. A child is victimised not only when they are abused and an image is taken. They are re-victimised every time that image is viewed by someone.
"Some of the people who start by accessing indecent images online go on to abuse children directly. So the operation is not only about catching people who have already offended – it is about influencing potential offenders before they cross that line
"We want those offenders to know that the internet is not a safe anonymous space for accessing indecent images, that they leave a digital footprint, and that law enforcement will find it".
Forensic examination and further enquiries are continuing in each case while the men are on bail, and reports will be submitted to the CPS when investigations are complete.
A spokeswoman for Surrey Police said no evidence had been found of any "contact offending" against any children in the county but precautionary child protection measures have been taken in cases where suspects have been found to have access to children.
As a consequence of the operation four children in Surrey were subject of a safeguarding referral to Children's Social Care. These referrals allow police and social workers to consider what precautionary measures might need to be put in place to ensure the children are protected from harm. However there has been no evidence to date of any specific risk or of contact offending.
