Police arrest growing number of online pedophiles, all aged 18-60 and male

The Police and Border Guard Board has directed more resources towards catching online pedophiles since last year, and by October last year nine months of operations had resulted in over 50 suspects arrested. All online pedophiles arrested so far have been men aged 18-60. Experts emphasise that the growing numbers do not indicate societal illness but rather improved police work.

The Police and Border Guard Board has significantly increased resources for catching online pedophiles over the past year, and the results are showing. By October last year, nine months of operations had resulted in over 50 suspects arrested, and the situation this year is roughly similar in scale.

The numbers grow, but why?

"These individuals haven't become fewer for us. Rather, we see that they're coming in to some extent. Whether it's good police work that we're able to catch more of them, or our prevention efforts that bring us information," reflected police officer Viitak.

Former Interior Minister Jaak Anvelt emphasises that the growing number is not an alarming sign of moral decline in society. "The increase in numbers doesn't show that society has become sicker. The police have become better," said Anvelt. He drew a parallel to the 1990s, when various crime categories came onto the police radar for the first time: growing numbers reflect intensified attention and developed methodology, not an explosive growth in crimes themselves.

Who is an online paedophile?

Viitak admits it's difficult to establish a concrete profile, but so far all arrested have been men aged 18-60. Among them are people with good living standards as well as those with more complicated mental health situations. Some claim they committed the crime while intoxicated. "Whatever the excuse is, it still doesn't excuse the crime," said Viitak decisively.

He added that even those who claim not to have physically touched a child are not exempt from responsibility: communicating with children online using sexual content is also a crime.

How do children end up at risk?

Online pedophiles hunt for children in the most popular communication apps: Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat. "They get the impression that Snapchat is anonymous and they can hide themselves there. Willingly or not, when a crime is committed, a trace of you remains online and we can catch them there too," confirmed Viitak.

The police message is clear: digital anonymity is an illusion and criminals have nowhere to hide on the internet.