The National Crime Agency, NCA, has stated that no fewer than 450 people have been arrested in the UK after they were identified as members of an online platform used for trading child sexual abuse material.
In a statement, the agency said, the material was some of the most horrific and devastating investigators had seen as it included a particularly disturbing and sadistic video series, which showed the torture, rape and sexual abuse of three kidnapped young girls, one of whom was an 18-month-old toddler.
According to a report, authorities in New Zealand, where the platform was hosted, launched an investigation in October 2019 and identified tens of thousands of global users.
Information relating to accounts believed to have been created in the UK was passed to the National Crime Agency.
The NCA launched a high priority operation to analyse the data, before initiating its own investigations, as well as disseminating packages to law enforcement partners across the country.
So far, 450 UK-based users of the platform have been arrested by police, Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs) and the NCA, for a variety of child sexual abuse offences.
NCA investigations alone, it was said, have led to the arrest of 95 people, with 42 having been charged to date and 28 convicted. NCA officers have also safeguarded 79 children.
According to NCA, many were initially arrested for their roles in sharing child abuse material on the platform, this often led investigators to uncover further serious offending, including contact abuse.
