Police make child porn raids in Northern Ireland

Police investigating the distribution of child pornography on the Internet today raided 18 addresses across Britain and Northern Ireland, Scotland Yard said.

The 7am raids followed a five-month investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Clubs and Vice Obscene Publications and Internet Unit.

This morning’s operation, codenamed Pilham, involved eight forces and focused on people using the Internet groups and communities to distribute indecent images of children.

Police forces involved were Metropolitan, Avon and Somerset, Grampian, Greater Manchester, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and North Yorkshire.

Superintendent Chris Bradford, of the Metropolitan Police’s Clubs and Vice Unit, said: "This morning’s operation is an excellent example of the Met’s continuing work to track down those involved in making and distributing indecent images of children.

"This type of crime involves one of the most vulnerable groups in society and we will take every step we can to protect them.

"Officers in the Obscene Publications and Internet Unit will continue their work in order to cause maximum disruption to those committing this type of crime.

"There exists a high level of co-operation between police forces throughout the UK and Internet Service Providers, which will continue. Technology doesn’t make you invisible - we can and will trace and identify you."

Search warrants were executed under the Protection of Children Act 1978.