POLICE are warning people who view sexually explicit images of children that they will be caught.

The warning comes after officers from West Mercia and West Midlands policing areas were out targeting offenders in dawn raids today (December 8),  as part of Operation Safenet, a cross-border child protection initiative.

Today alone, simultaneous warrants were executed at addresses from Coventry to Telford and Stafford. A 62-year-old man from Telford was arrested on suspicion of possession of indecent images.

The regional operation aims to safeguard children by detecting abuse and prosecuting offenders for the possession and distribution of indecent images of children.  

This approach was pioneered in Staffordshire during the summer of 2015 before being launched across Warwickshire, West Mercia and West Midlands policing areas earlier this year. It brings together police officers and highly skilled digital forensics staff to proactively seek out those using the internet to view and exchange these images.

Each week the teams use the latest digital investigative techniques to identify where illegal images are being viewed, then using this intelligence, apply to a magistrate for a search warrant, to allow the police and digital forensic experts to raid the home to seize evidence and arrest those involved.

Since the operation launched across the region, the teams have carried out 593 investigations, arrested 353 people for sexual offences and safeguarded 491 children.

Detective Sergeant Matthew McNelis said: "Operation Safenet uses the latest mobile based technology to enable us to set up a digital forensics laboratory in the home of the suspect and examine the computers, mobiles, tables and data storage devices within minutes. The forensics staff work with the police officers in the address to immediately secure evidence for a prosecution and help build the case, so a quick decision can be made in terms of charges and putting the suspect before the courts.

"This triage approach to the evidence means we can immediately take action to prevent further offences and importantly take action to protect any children at risk.

"I want those using such images to really think about their actions, often they think there isn't a victim because they might not have any direct contact with the children in the images, but those children are victims of abuse and were abused to make those images. With colleagues across the region, we will continue to tackle this issue and take enforcement action to protect children until we know children are safe."

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation is a registered child protection charity dedicated to reducing the risk of children being sexually abused. It works with entire families affected by sexual abuse, including adult male and female sexual abusers, young people with inappropriate sexual behaviours, victims of abuse and other family members. More information for adults concerned about their own behaviour, or that of someone they know, is available from stopitnow.org.uk.