Huntingdonshire homes raided in paedophile crackdown

TWELVE properties in Cambridgeshire, including two in Huntingdonshire, have been raided as part of a crackdown on suspected paedophiles.

Operation Darcey took place this week and targeted people in possession of indecent images of children.

Detectives seized 40 desktop computers, 12 laptops, 36 hard drives and 100s of media storage devices.

The operation is part of an international investigation into those using the internet to download indecent images of children.

Officers from the Public Protection Unit have been working with the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre to investigate any Cambridgeshire links to the use of an illegal website believed to be hosted outside the UK.

Detective Inspector Adam Gallop, who led the operation, said: “This work is part of our ongoing efforts to protect children and target paedophiles.

“We have seized a number of computers and media storage devices which will now be examined by specially trained officers.

“The continued growth of the internet creates a massive market for images of children being abused. My concern is that people feel safe viewing and storing these images on their computers at home, my message is that they are not, it can take some considerable time for intelligence collected outside of the UK to result in police officers in Cambridgeshire knocking on doors. If you are looking at these types of images do not feel safe, we will come through your door. If not today then maybe over a year after you have viewed them.

“The viewing of indecent material fuels child abuse and must be considered as one of the most abhorrent crimes to be committed. If you have concerns about anyone you know do not delay in contacting the police.”

Nine homes were raided in the Peterborough and one in the Cambridge area.

A 21-year-old man from Peterborough was arrested in connection with one raid and has been bailed to return to Thorpe Wood Police Station on October 7.