Online Investigations Team
The Online Investigations Team seeks to pursue those linked to Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE), OCGs, gangs and high harm offenders by providing specialist support primarily through close working with the Regional Undercover Unit (RUU).
Our services
The Online Investigations Team:
- proactively and reactively target the online threat of CSAE
- proactively and reactively target the online threat of OCGs, gangs and high harm nominals
- advise on how to secure deployment of the Undercover Online Only Operative (UCOLO) tactic against a known or unknown threat. See the Online CSAE referral form and the High Harm referral form.
- manage the covert response to offenders that travel to a meet location with the intention to abuse who they believe to be a child
- liaise and assist forces with online offenders in their area, ensuring risks are managed
- coordinate intelligence submissions to Europol via the Secure Information Exchange Network Application (SIENA) system
- offer a specialist intelligence research and development capability, supported by both the NCA and international partners
- access wider specialisms and advice within the online environment through a national network
- advise officers taking cases to CPS and through court, to manage disclosure rules and defences presented
- advise on further covert opportunities within SWROCU that may assist to target offenders
Who can use our services?
- Senior Investigating Officers, Offender Management Units and teams that hold responsibility and focus on child protection investigations
- Proactive teams dedicated to addressing SOC involving OCGs
- Other officers or staff keen to discuss tactical options around the undercover online tactic
We are keen to offer initial advice on how our capabilities and other partners may be able to assist your investigation. Bids for capabilities then need to be taken to your Force Tasking meeting.
The Online Investigations Team in action
Advise – Tactical support to SIOs
The Team offers advice around covert and overt tactics for investigations into any high harm crime-based OCG or CSAE offending.
Assist – A quick and successful outcome
Following a referral from Avon and Somerset Police in relation to a registered sex offender offending online, online tactics were deployed in a bid to identify whether the subject would demonstrate his sexual interest in children and provide opportunity for the online investigation team to disrupt.
The subject engaged with a female child profile whereby the age was clearly provided and where initial rapport building soon changed to sexual communication.
Engagements with the subject lasted approximately two weeks at which point an evidential package was generated and sent to Avon and Somerset Police. The force immediately assigned an OIC, and officers attended the offender’s home address to effect an arrest.
He was detained, interviewed and following consultation with CPS, he was charged. The offender pleaded guilty to all offences and seven months later he was sentenced for his crimes to just over seven years custody, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and Sex Offender registration requirements for life.
Assist – Supporting Wiltshire Police
A joint investigation by the Online Investigations Team and Wiltshire Police concluded with a man from Gloucester jailed for three years and three months after sending graphic sexual images and attempting to meet what he thought to be a teenage girl.
Assist – Targeting high risk offenders
Acting on intelligence relating to a registered sex offender’s noncompliance with management orders, tactics were deployed to secure evidence of online CSAE offending. Following 13 days of focussed deployments the subject was arrested and subsequently charged and remanded.
Adopt – Identifying high risk offenders
Working alongside Avon and Somerset Constabulary and other capabilities within the SWROCU, a week of action identified four offenders that travelled with the intention of committing contact abuse against children; this occurred following a short initial interaction and demonstrated a high level of risk to the community.
How to request services
Our Gateway, within the Regional Intelligence Unit can provide more information about this service:
- by phone – 01278 647 299
- email – swrocugateway@avonandsomerset.police.uk
The Regional Intelligence Unit is available:
- Monday to Friday 08:00 – 22:00
- Weekends 08:00 – 16:30
For complex or resource-intensive requests, or requests for sensitive tactics, you will be asked to complete the BID Capability Form. Please refer to the Tasking Procedural Guidance about this process.
For urgent, out-of-hours enquires, call 01278 647 299 and the number will divert to the on-call SWROCU officer.