News

29 October 2009
POLICE SERVICE RESPONDS TO THREAT TO CHILDREN

The police service in Scotland has responded robustly to the growing threat to child safety represented by the on-line abuse of children and the distribution of indecent images of children.

Operation Alba is a Scotland-wide operation involving the eight Scottish police forces, the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA), Crown Office and the Child Exploitation and On-line Protection Centre (CEOP).  The purpose of Operation Alba is to ensure offenders are identified, enforcement action taken and children at risk rescued from harm. 

Assistant Chief Constable Iain Livingstone, who holds the Child Protection portfolio for the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) said: “We are turning a corner in dealing with this kind of crime in Scotland and we will be proactive in our approach.

“Those who attack and abuse our children think they can disguise their tracks.  However, we will use the very technology they exploit to catch them.

“Operation Alba will use intelligence and investigation techniques, including existing and emerging technology, to detect those involved in online child abuse and bring them to justice.

“We are utilising the most up-to-date technology to identify and arrest individuals who attack and abuse vulnerable children.  Those who do so will rightly face lengthy prison sentences like Rennie and Strachan.

“There is no stereotypical child abuser – they come from all walks of life, all professions, can be married and with children of their own. Often they have had no previous contact with the authorities.

“We are making clear through Operation Alba that there is no hiding place, every contact via the internet leaves a trail which we will follow.  We will investigate, enforce the law and rescue children from harm.  It is a priority for the police service in Scotland to protect our children”.