Positive start to the year for Paedophile Online Investigation Team

The first three months of 2022 has netted some great results for Northamptonshire Police’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT).

The POLIT sits within the Force’s Public Protection Unit and works to brings people who view and distribute indecent images of children, or who groom, incite and facilitate sexual activity with children through use of the internet, to justice.

Between January and March this year, the team have executed eight warrants, safeguarded 39 children and made 38 arrests.

During this time they have also seen 15 people convicted and sentenced for their crimes.

These convictions have included a 36-year-old man sentenced to six years and one month in prison for a number of charges including two counts of attempting to cause/incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity and seven counts of making indecent images of children.

A 37-year-old man was sentenced to eight years in prison in connection with charges including making indecent images of children and paying for the sexual services of a girl under 13.

And a 69-year-old man sentenced to five years and seven months for three counts of arranging/facilitating a child sex offence.

Detective Inspector Matt Haworth, said: “Our team proactively seeks out offenders as well as having responsibility for reactive referrals and I hope these results demonstrate the commitment we have to safeguarding children in Northamptonshire.

“We often see drugs warrants publicised in the media but our team also conduct warrants following investigations into an individual’s online activities. These warrants lead to arrests, charges, convictions and most importantly – children being safeguarded and protected from harm.

“Our mission is to protect children from online predators – whether that be convicting offenders for possessing indecent images of children or protecting a child who is being groomed online. We will continue working hard and hope to see similarly good results as the year progresses.”