Internet Watch Foundation

Information from the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) helped launch an investigation that led to one of the UK’s largest paedophile raids.

 

A member of the public reported illegal material found in a web based style group/community to the IWF. This report was checked and processed by IWF and subsequently resulted in the UK’s largest paedophile raid.

 

“An operation of this scale requires partnerships. The IWF has worked with the Obscene Publications unit for the past three years. The work they do to act as a point of contact for the public and provide us with quality information has been very important” explained Inspector Brian Ward of the Metropolitian Police - Clubs and Vice Unit.

 

“Knowing our work is effective is so important to our staff. No one knows more how horrendous these crimes are than our analysts who have the difficult jobs of evaluating content. One of the things that keeps them motivated is knowing that they make a real difference” said David Kerr, CEO of the IWF.

 

Kerr goes on to explain, “The IWF is an independent body. We work with the public, police and ISPs to remove illegal material from the Net. The IWF takes reports from the public, determines if reported material is illegal and, if it is, then we inform the police and notify ISPs to remove it.

 

This has proven to be a successful model that has been replicated throughout the world with 16 hotline organisations now co-operating internationally. The work we do here with the co-operation of those hotlines and law enforcement has also led to arrests in other countries”