Antrim house raided in child porn crackdown

A house in Co Antrim has been raided and computer equipment seized as part of an Internet child porn crackdown across the UK.

A PSNI spokesman said the house in the "Antrim police district" was raided this morning. He added that a computer and two computer discs were seized. He warned Internet users who used it to break the law, that their activities could be monitored.

"Operation Magenta" is the biggest operation of its kind in the UK to date.

In Britain, Greater Manchester Police say 75 warrants have been executed. Merseyside Police seized computer equipment during raids on the Wirral and in Walton, Liverpool. A Wirral man in his twenties has been arrested.

The operation follows a six-month investigation by 34 police forces under the Protection of Children Act.

It was led jointly by officers from Hertfordshire Police's child protection and investigation unit and Greater Manchester Police's abusive images unit.

A total of 75 warrants were carried out simultaneously focusing on paedophiles who used Internet chatrooms to advertise and exchange images of children being abused.

Inspector Keith Tilley, head of Hertfordshire Police's child protection and investigation unit said: "Hertfordshire, along with other forces, will continue to work to identify and track down those individuals who believe the internet gives them anonymity to continue their trade in abusive images of children.

"This is not the case and further operations like today's will take place in the future."

Inspector Terry Jones, from Greater Manchester Police's abusive images unit, added: "Today's operation is primarily about two things: firstly, to closely examine the activities of individuals who have engaged in the exchange of child abuse material and determine what access they have to real children.

"Secondly, it is a clear demonstration that forces can work together to tackle new challenges posed by the Internet."

Additional reporting PA