Online safeguarding team secure 136 years of convictions in 2025
A specialist team of Hertfordshire detectives, dedicated to protecting children from online predators, secured 136 years of prison sentences in 2025, in what has been described as an ‘outstanding and relentless’ effort to keep young people safe.
Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Child Online Safeguarding Team (COST) – named the force’s Team of the Year in November 2025 – investigates adults who exploit or target children through digital platforms. The team, made up of specialist officers, is responsible for tackling some of the most complex and harrowing offences committed online.
Last year COST handled 564 referrals, which resulted in search warrants and arrests. Many of these were passed to the team by the National Crime Agency, who identify abusers online and pass the details to individual forces to investigate.
Across the year, the team arrested 154 suspects for offences including rape, incest and distributing indecent images of children. Their work led to 305 authorised charges, culminating in significant prison sentences – some of them life terms.
A further 116 suspects remain on bail while investigations continue, and the team is currently managing 555 live cases, reflecting the high and growing volume of online offending.
Detective Inspector Fay Tooley, who leads the unit, praised her detectives for their resilience and determination: ‘My detectives tackle some of the most distressing crimes imaginable, yet remain relentless in pursuing offenders. They execute warrants, make arrests and review disturbing material without hesitation.
‘This is difficult work, but we are completely committed. It is also extremely rewarding when you catch someone who you know was planning to harm a child.
‘Offenders think they can hide online behind fake identities or on the dark web, but my message to those who target children in this way is: we will find you.’
Alongside major investigations, the team also works on juvenile diversion cases – situations where young people have accessed illegal material online.
DI Tooley stressed the importance of parental supervision: ‘It is important that parents monitor and control their child’s online activity. Although we try to avoid criminalising juvenile curiosity, severe or substantial viewing may result in a conviction.’
COST also partners with charities such as the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, which supports individuals concerned about their online behaviour, and organisations including the Internet Watch Foundation and NSPCC, which provide resources and advice for parents. Further information and advice is available via: Lucy Faithfull Foundation – Preventing child sexual abuse and Report online child sexual abuse imagery or ‘child pornography’.