Big raid in Hesse: Police fight against child abuse!

Big raid in Hesse: Police fight against child abuse!

Last month, Hessian police carried out a major raid to combat child abuse and child pornography. From June 30th to July 4th, a total of 59 houses and apartments were searched in several cities and districts. The result is significant: 460 crime-specific items, including numerous storage media, were seized. Nine suspects were questioned, but no arrests were made. A total of 57 suspects between the ages of 15 and 71 are suspected of being involved in the production, possession and distribution of child and youth pornography, with two cases of sexual abuse under 18 years old also being discussed. This reports 112-magazin.de.

The searches took place in cities such as Frankfurt am Main, Fulda, Gießen and Hanau as well as in several districts. The figures from the police crime statistics show a worrying increase: In 2024, 5,270 cases of acquisition, possession or distribution of child and youth pornography were documented, with an alarming proportion of 52.9% of the suspects being younger than 21 years. In the 1,159 cases of sexual abuse recorded, 35.2% of the accused were under 21 years of age. Often these minors act out of a lack of knowledge; Therefore, the juvenile criminal procedure is more focused on education and awareness-raising.

Hessian police in the fight against abuse

In order to make the fight against child abuse more effective, the Hessian police set up the “FOKUS” unit in February 2024. This group, consisting of around 300 employees, including 170 investigators, is dedicated exclusively to combating sexual crimes against children and young people. In addition to the raid, 960 search warrants have already been executed this year and over 9,000 data carriers have been seized. If you would like to seek support, you can contact the police advice and help hotline on 0800/5522200.

The use of technology and collaboration with international partners plays a crucial role in the fight against child pornography. The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has a central function in Germany to combat sexual crimes against children. With the “Central Office for Combating Sexual Offenses to the Detriment of Children and Young People”, the BKA has been active since the mid-1990s to combat the increase in depictions of abuse on the Internet. In 2023, the BKA received around 180,300 tips about possible criminal offenses in Germany, which were then processed by a specially trained team. If criminal content is discovered, the BKA immediately initiates investigations, although in serious cases it also acts directly on behalf of the public prosecutor's office. This shows the responsible cooperation that is necessary to overcome the challenges facing the state, explains the BKA on its website: bka.de.

Help for those affected

The feeling of being alone with an explicit image online can be overwhelming. Those affected are often inadequately informed about where they can find help. Support can be provided through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), which provides crisis intervention and local counseling services for victims and their families. An important program is Team HOPE, which connects families who have experienced similar crises and supports them in difficult times. At a time when many families are feeling overwhelmed and alone, it is crucial that this help is available. For more information about support, please visit missingkids.org.

The growing cooperation between police authorities and international organizations shows that the fight against child abuse on the Internet is being taken seriously. It is up to all of us to address this worrying development and ensure that children can grow up in safety.