Paedophile Unit

The unit was set up in the mid 1990s to deal with the widespread cases of child abuse in children’s homes in Cheshire dating back to the 1960s.

With the explosion of technology, the unit’s focus has turned to the internet and digital devices. This has its own challenges - the nature of the internet means many cases are referred to Cheshire Constabulary from other forces and vice versa.

When a computer is seized in a child abuse investigation in Britain, all the files are checked. Any illegal images with links to the county are then investigated by Cheshire Constabulary.

Sometimes the information arrives from a global investigation, sometimes it’s years old but the Constabulary’s Paedophile Unit will investigate all referrals and intelligence received.

If necessary, a search warrant is obtained and all the digital and analogue equipment in the suspect’s house are seized and sent to the Constabulary’s Computer Investigation Unit for forensic examination.

Cheshire Constabulary work with security specialists to crack passwords and encrypted files to find out those involved with producing or distributing illegal images. They also work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure those responsible are convicted.

Profile: Detective Inspector Mark Bradley - Public Protection Unit

DI Mark Bradley has been in charge of Cheshire Constabulary’s Public Protection Unit in Halton since April 2009. He had previously spent 14 years working as a detective with the Metropolitan Police, before transferring to Cheshire in 2002. Prior to his current position, he managed the Northern Intelligence Unit.

His work as a detective involves helping and interacting with very vulnerable people. This has helped him greatly in a role which demands compassion and good communication skills, as well as the investigative skills you would expect.

He said:

The importance of this role is that we are helping to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.

My team have responsibility for investigating all interfamilial allegations of physical and sexual abuse against children, high risk victims of domestic violence, sexual offenders and offences against vulnerable adults.

While DI Bradley and his team retain responsibility for the more traditional policing role of investigating these often horrific offences, equally important is the support offered to the victims.

We have responsibility for everything about the offence. We take the lead role in investigating whether any criminal offences have taken place, but we also work with our partners to ensure that short-term and long-term plans are made for the victim’s care.

In planning for the victim’s welfare, we work alongside a number of other agencies, including local authorities, social care and the NHS.

There are detective inspectors in charge of public protection units in each area of Cheshire who perform the same role as DI Bradley.