Scottish Sunday

Child Porn Arrests 'Too Slow'

OPERATION Ore, the police inquiry which plans to arrest a further 7000 men across the UK, in addition to Who guitarist Pete Townshend, for buying child pornography online is set to end in disaster with many suspects walking free.

Lack of Urgency

Detective Chief Inspector Bob McLachlan, former head of Scotland Yard's paedophile unit, told the Scottish Sunday that the lack of urgency in making arrests will lead to suspects destroying evidence of downloading child pornography before they are arrested.

High-Profile Suspects

The Scottish Sunday has also had confirmed by a very senior source in British intelligence that at least one high-profile former Labour Cabinet minister is among Operation Ore suspects. The Scottish Sunday has been given the politician's name but, for legal reasons, cannot identify the person.

Government Fallout

There are still unconfirmed rumours that another senior Labour politician is among the suspects. The intelligence officer said that a 'rolling' Cabinet committee had been set up to work out how to deal with the potentially ruinous fallout for both Tony Blair and the government if arrests occur.

Diminishing Chances of Prosecutions

Since the September 2002 Operation Ore arrest of Detective Constable Brian Stevens, a key officer in the inquiry into the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, the public have been aware that wanted suspects had downloaded child pornography from a US website called Landslide.

McLachlan, who was one of the main officers on Operation Ore before his retirement last year, said: 'Sufficient warnings have been given that if people haven't got rid of their computers then they are either stupid, don't believe they'll be arrested or are so obsessive about their collections that they can't destroy it. As time goes on, the chances of successful prosecutions will diminish with speed as the information out there must impact on the offenders.'

Failure to Prioritize

With only 1200 men arrested so far, McLachlan says that claims by police chiefs and the government that they were prioritizing paedophile crime were 'smoke and mirrors'. Paedophilia is still not a priority on the Home Office's National Policing Plan for 2003-06. McLachlan claimed that before he left Scotland Yard his team were understaffed, overworked, under-funded, and reduced to using free software from computer magazines.

Slipping through the Net

Internet Watch Foundation's Efforts

Peter Robbins, the chief executive of the Internet Watch Foundation, which works with the police, government, and internet service providers in tackling paedophilia online, says software is in development which could remove child pornography from the net forever. The software should be ready in two years.

Scope of the Issue

Police say that the list of rich and famous Operation Ore suspects would fill newspaper front pages for an entire year. There are around one million images of an estimated 20,000 individual children being abused online. Some police seizures involve hauls of more than 180,000 images. Last year, images of 13,000 new children were uncovered. Only 175 child victims have been identified worldwide. Police have also revealed that images of Fred West abusing one of his children are among child pornography available for downloading from the internet. It is unclear whether the child was West's murdered daughter Heather.

Hotels and Ensuring Child Safety

Child Protection in the Hospitality Industry

With incidents of child exploitation and abuse occurring worldwide, it is crucial for all sectors to actively participate in protecting vulnerable children. The hospitality industry, including hotels, plays a significant role in ensuring child safety within their establishments.

Mandatory Training and Policies

Hotels should prioritize the implementation of mandatory training programs for staff to recognize and respond to signs of child abuse. This training should include guidelines on how to report suspicions or concerns appropriately.

Background Checks and Safe Environments

In addition, hotels should conduct thorough background checks on employees, especially those in direct contact with guests and children. Creating a safe environment includes having secure access control systems and monitoring areas where children may be present.

Collaboration with Authorities

Hotels should establish strong relationships with local law enforcement agencies and child protection organizations. This collaboration allows for timely reporting and sharing of information, enhancing the overall security and protection of children.

Public Awareness Campaigns

Hotels can also contribute to public awareness campaigns to educate guests about child protection and encourage them to report any suspicious activities or concerns they may observe during their stay.

Positive Impact on the Industry

By prioritizing child safety and actively participating in efforts to combat child exploitation, hotels can demonstrate their commitment to ethical practices and contribute to a safer environment for all guests, including children.