IWF comment following the National Crime Agency (NCA) operational announcement

Published:  Wed 16 Jul 2014

The NCA released details of an operation involving 660 suspected paedophiles which can be read here.

The IWF has issued a statement in relation to the operation.

Susie Hargreaves, IWF CEO said: “This is an unprecedented operation and a fabulous show of partnership working across the policing spectrum in the UK. It’s clear that a significant blow has been dealt to those who abuse children and abuse the internet. Regardless of whether someone has produced the images, traded or collected them, it revictimises vulnerable children time and time again.  

“The IWF works closely with the online industry, NCA CEOP, and police forces nationally and internationally to remove child sexual abuse imagery from the internet. Less than 1% of known child sexual abuse images are hosted in the UK and the IWF is working hard internationally to speed up the action taken abroad to remove these images.

“As people abuse different technologies it's vital that all organisations work together to combat this criminality.”
 
Notes to editors:

Contact: Emma Hardy, IWF Director of External Relations +44 (0) 1223 203030, +44 (0) 7929 553679 or [email protected]
About the Internet Watch Foundation

The IWF is the Hotline to report:

    child sexual abuse content hosted anywhere in the world;
    criminally obscene adult content hosted in the UK;
    non-photographic child sexual abuse images hosted in the UK.

For more information please visit www.iwf.org.uk.
The IWF is part of the UK Safer Internet Centre, working with Childnet International and the South West Grid for Learning to promote the safe and responsible use of technology.

New guidance for parents and carers as AI-manipulated images of children become a growing concern

New guidance for parents and carers as AI-manipulated images of children become a growing concern

With AI-generated sexual abuse imagery increasing every year, the IWF and NCA call on families to understand the risks of sharing children's photos online.

3 July 2026 News
KIDZONET joins the Internet Watch Foundation to strengthen child protection across digital networks

KIDZONET joins the Internet Watch Foundation to strengthen child protection across digital networks

By working with the IWF, KIDZONET is reinforcing its commitment to disrupting the spread of child sexual abuse material online.

29 June 2026 News
Survivor voice central to IWF annual report launch discussions in Brussels

Survivor voice central to IWF annual report launch discussions in Brussels

Crucial perspectives from a survivor and a senior analyst at the front line of the fight against child sexual abuse material anchored the EU launch of the Internet Watch Foundation’s 2025 Annual Data & Insights Report.

11 June 2026 News