UK detains 45 suspects in just 4 weeks as child abusers exploit COVID-19 realities

London — The director-general of the U.K.'s National Crime Agency (NCA) says the criminals who prey on children online, and gangs behind serious and organized crime, are finding opportunities and adapting to the circumstances presented by the coronavirus pandemic.

Lynne Owens, whose agency is akin to the FBI in the United States, tells CBS News' Ian Lee that British authorities are working closely with their American counterparts on cybercrime in particular. Children, stuck at home under COVID-19 lockdowns in the U.K. and many parts of the U.S., are particularly vulnerable as they spend additional time on the internet.

"We don't want to scare parents, but there is no doubt that with more children online, we need to work harder to protect those children," Owens told CBS News...

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-crime-uk-says-child-abusers-and-other-criminals-adapting-to-covid-19-lockdowns/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab8d&linkId=87980146