Warrants, convictions and children safeguarded – more good results for online child abuse investigation unit

The Online Child Abuse Investigation Unit (OCAIU) at Northamptonshire Police have continued working hard to secure results that protect young people in this county.

The OCAIU sits within the Force’s Protecting Vulnerable People Command and works to target people who view and distribute indecent images of children, or who groom, incite and facilitate sexual activity with children through use of the internet, and bring them to justice.

Between July and September this year, the team have executed a number of warrants, safeguarded 41 children and made 35 arrests.

During this time they have also seen 14 people convicted and sentenced for their crimes.

These convictions have included a 66-year-old man sentenced to three years in prison for a number of offences including attempting to cause/incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to meet a child following grooming.

A 39-year-old man was sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison in connection with making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children, and voyeurism.

Whilst a 29-year-old man was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison for two counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child.

Detective Inspector Matt Haworth said: “We know how important it is to the public that the police pursue these offenders and therefore, I hope these results are reassuring

“In this Force, we have an entire unit dedicated to catching those who prey on children - bringing these people to justice and most importantly, safeguarding the children involved.

“We continue to achieve some really positive results and the public can be reassured that we will continue to publicise them in this way.

“Our team is full of officers and staff with a passion for pursuing offenders and safeguarding young people. They are a group of tenacious and hardworking individuals who use a myriad of tools and tactics to identify, pursue, catch and convict those in our county who pose a sexual risk to children. I am really proud to lead them and I am confident that, as our team continues to grow in size, that we will be delivering similarly good results in the last quarter of this year.

“Finally, I want to use this opportunity to send a message to anyone reading this who may be committing offences online against children.

“Your actions - whether that be viewing indecent images of children or grooming them online, causes harm and misery way beyond what you might believe. Every time an image is viewed or shared, a child is re-victimised, they suffer, their family suffers, and when we catch you, your family will suffer because of your selfish actions.

“And although we may not have caught you yet, it is only a matter of time until we knock on your door.”