Computer Forensics Helps Destroy Global Paedophile Ring
Computer forensics taught by information security experts 7Safe played an important part in enabling police to capture members of a global internet paedophile ring run by a 28-year-old British man.
Officers involved in a 10 month Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) led operation rescued 31 children who suffered terrible ordeals, some broadcast live on the internet. Around 700 suspects - 200 from the UK - were identified in 35 countries during the process. Offenders used a web chatroom to swap photos and videos of horrific abuse.
The offending website was hosted by Suffolk-based Timothy Cox, who admitted nine offences of possessing and distributing tens of thousands of indecent images of children. As a result of a successful Suffolk prosecution, he has been jailed indefinitely.
A key technique that police officers used in obtaining evidence against Cox was working with volatile electronic data. This progressive method complements traditional hard drive computer forensics and allowed practitioners to extract crucial evidence from live systems and networks.
The police specialists from Suffolk Constabulary involved in the case had been trained by 7Safe in cutting edge volatile data computer forensic techniques.
Alan Phillips from 7Safe said, “This case demonstrates that Suffolk High Tech Crime Unit have put the latest in computer forensics to excellent use in securing critical evidence. Live computer forensic analysis is fast becoming part of the mainstream approach to evidence collection”.
On July 5th, 2007, the new Good Practice Guide for Computer based Electronic Evidence (co-authored by 7Safe) will be distributed to Police forces across the United Kingdom.