Child abuse probe targets five in Lothian

THE details of five suspects have been passed to Lothian and Borders Police as part of a three-year operation to smash the world's biggest online child pornography ring.

The global investigation was built up around the website Boylover.net, which had 70,000 followers, leading to 4000 intelligence reports being sent to police across 30 countries.

The details of 15 Scottish suspects have been passed to police, with the operation - which is still ongoing - having identified 670 suspects and 230 abused children.

The UK's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, which launched the inquiry, confirmed intelligence involving five suspects had been passed to Lothian and Borders Police, eight to Strathclyde, and two to the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency.

It was also reported today that one woman paedophile, arrested by Lothian and Borders Police, has since been sectioned.

A total of 121 Britons have been arrested, including school teachers, taxi drivers, and IT consultants, with 33 of those convicted of offences relating to child pornography.

It is not known whether the Scottish suspects were among those arrested or convicted.