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<strong>Child</strong> PornograPhy First report oF the Dutch NatioNal rapporteur
interest (national security and economy) and/or that involve organised crime (particularly the more
serious forms). 299 The team, together with the existing Computer Forensics team [Digitale Recherche] (Team
Digitaal & Internet of the <strong>National</strong> Crime Squad), has been operational since 1 January 2007.
The aim is to conduct two to four major investigations into high-tech crime per year. The team acts as a
point of contact for partners within the Netherlands and in other countries, and is available 24 hours per
day. The team provides an administrative report, if applicable, in all major investigations, and develops
new innovative methods of detection. The KLPD periodically informs the Minister of Security and Justice
of the results achieved by the team. 300
A multi-disciplinary team from the KLPD under the management of the team leader of the THTC took
part in the investigation in relation to the Amsterdam sexual abuse case. The work of the sex offences division
in Amsterdam included analysing the (child abuse) images found, in order to identify the victims,
and for the purpose of the (detection and) prosecution of Robert M. and his partner. The TBI contributed
its knowledge and expertise, and seconded some of its staff to the multi-disciplinary team. This created
an opportunity structure that was tailored to the investigation of the extensive Amsterdam sexual abuse
case. There were sufficient indications present to suggest that Robert M. was maintaining a network with
like-minded individuals. As a result of this the multi-disciplinary team focused primarily upon mapping
out the network of Robert M; it was not so much the child abuse material that formed the starting point,
but rather the e-mail and chatroom traffic. The analysis of the e-mail and chatroom traffic was used to
reveal the individuals with whom Robert M. had contact, and what had been exchanged. This method
was pre-eminently perpetrator-orientated. It is not yet definite how the working method of the multidisciplinary
team will ultimately be embedded (see also §3.4.4). 301
<strong>Child</strong> abuse material on anonymous, heavily concealed websites
In an investigation on the Internet, the <strong>National</strong> Crime Squad found large quantities of child abuse
material on anonymous online meeting places and hidden websites. The investigation was conducted
as a result of the emergence of the Amsterdam sexual abuse case. The <strong>National</strong> Crime
Squad of the <strong>National</strong> Police Services Agency (KLPD) assembled a multi-disciplinary investigation
team in order to map out the (international) network of the suspected sex offender Robert M. The
investigation team consisted of digital technology experts from the <strong>National</strong> Crime Squad, the
Specialist Criminal Investigations Applications Department (DSRT), the Amsterdam-Amstelland
police force, sex offence specialists from the Department of International Police Information, and
detectives from other KLPD services. The Internet security firm Fox IT supplied technical advice,
infrastructure and assistance to the investigation team. It emerged in this investigation that Robert
M. used hidden places, known as ‘hidden services’, on the Internet. In doing so he used the Tor
network, a worldwide network that enables users to surf the Internet anonymously. The hidden
services that were investigated consisted of websites, forums and other hidden meeting places
where child abuse material is exchanged. Visitors to these sites also communicated in chat channels
about the abuse of children and the production and distribution of child abuse material. Under the
responsibility of the <strong>National</strong> Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Public Prosecution Service, and with
299 Van der Hulst & Neve, 2008.
300 Parliamentary Papers II 2007/08, 29 628 and 28 824, no.68.
301 Information supplied verbally by the Team Leader of the High-Tech Crime Unit (KLPD), 4 July 2011.