Work by our specialist officers safeguards nearly 250 children in 2024

Work by our Police Online Investigation Team (POLIT) safeguarded nearly 250 children last year from dangerous online offenders.

POLIT form part of Essex Police’s Crime and Public Protection strand and in 2024 were confirmed to be top in the country for securing charges in relation to online child abuse investigations.

Since the beginning of 2024, the team have carried out 210 warrants. As a result of these warrants and other investigative tactics, 146 arrests were made, and 247 children were successfully safeguarded.

The team are continuing to develop ways to stay one step ahead of online offenders. This includes cross border working with international colleagues to ensure vital information is shared to support safeguarding.

And with a solved rate of 75 per cent, this specialist team are at the forefront of disrupting and stopping online abuse. 

POLIT’s dedication to ensuring children are safeguarded was highlighted through our investigation into 36-year-old Darren Hornsby, which was launched in 2019.

It followed intelligence regarding online activity involving indecent images and videos of children at his Clacton address. 

Hands of the abuser in one video were suspected to belong to Hornsby. A hand expert’s help was enlisted, and Hornsby was convicted.

He had admitted six counts of making indecent images of children but denied taking an indecent image of a child and sexual assault. 

Following the expert’s evidence in court it took a jury less than an hour to convict him on those charges.

Last month Hornsby was jailed for 15 years and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for life.

POLIT act quickly upon receiving intelligence around an individual accessing, downloading or sharing indecent images of children.

In another complex investigation which was brought to court last year, the work of team secured a conviction against a couple who used an online chat site to facilitate sexual offences against children. 

Summer Andrew, 23, of Old Road, Clacton and Nick Barrett, 23, of Claydon Road, Harwich were jailed for a combined total of 15 years in July 2024.

Detective Inspector Emma Portfleet said:

"Our team are dedicated to keeping children safe by finding those intent on causing children harm and bringing them to justice.
"The online world is changing and evolving all the time and we continue to assess and investigate suspicious activity.
"We were very proud last year to be classed as the highest performing team in the country for these offences after securing 424 charges against 243 people in 2023.
"However, this success does not make us complacent, and we continue to work to improve our tactics, catch dangerous offenders and keep children safe.
"The POLIT team are currently balancing 278 live investigations, and they view graphic and distressing evidence to continue protecting vulnerable children.
"This type of vital work has an understandable impact on the whole team, and they will continue to be supported, so that they can focus on achieving results like these."

Synergy Essex