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Implementation
the permission of the examining judge at the Court of Rotterdam, the detectives entered twelve
hidden services by breaking through the security facility. A total of more than 220,000 images and
videos of child abuse were found in the investigation. The most important aim in tackling child
pornography is to find and put a stop to the abuse of children and to arrest the producers of the
images or videos. In this investigation the police wanted to make it clear that neither anonymity
within the Tor network nor boundaries between counties will constitute any hindrance to the detection
of child abuse material. 302
International investigations: Europol and Interpol
Due to its distribution via the Internet, child abuse material often exists on an international scale, and
the commercial production of such material often involves a form of organised crime. For this reason,
criminal investigations are usually conducted on an international scale. Interpol 303 and Europol 304 facilitate
and coordinate international investigations into networks, and therefore play a role in tackling
child pornography. 305
At Interpol, a specific team is charged with international coordination activities, and specialist meetings
are frequently organised in which information and knowledge is exchanged. 306 In 2001, Interpol
began building a database of images from solved cases. This database is used to identify children who
are (or have been) victims of sexual abuse and child pornography. The TBI receives a great deal of information
via Interpol in relation to cases found regarding child pornography that is connected to the
Netherlands. 307
At Europol, tackling child pornography forms the subject of one of the current analytical work files
(AWF). <strong>National</strong> police services across practically the entire world are involved in tackling child pornography
in the same way as TBI. Just as is the case in the Netherlands, cases are brought against suspects in
those countries by other countries. The case details are sent to those countries via the appropriate channels.
If investigations uncover international networks, this may result in Europe-wide proceedings (by
Europol) or sometimes worldwide (by Interpol and/or Europol). International meetings are convened in
which information is exchanged and agreements are reached with regard to (joint) courses of action. The
TBI attends such meetings and coordinates cooperative action in close consultation with the <strong>National</strong>
Public Prosecutor’s Office and the regional police forces involved. 308 However, the Korpsmonitor 2010
stated that cooperation with international partners is limited. 309 The services of Interpol, Europol and
302 www.om.nl/actueel-o/nieuws-persberichten/@156657/kinderporno-anonieme/ (viewed 5 September
2011).
303 Van der Zee & Groeneveld, 2007.
304 Van der Zee & Groeneveld, 2007.
305 Van der Zee & Groeneveld, 2007.
306 Parliamentary Papers II 2005/06, 30 300 VI, no. 139.
307 Van der Zee & Groeneveld, 2007.
308 Parliamentary Papers II 2006/06, 30 300 VI, no.139.
309 Programme of Improvements in Tackling <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Pornography</strong>, 2011. This is contradicted by a member
of staff of TBI. TBI often works in collaboration with partners in other countries such as Interpol and
Europol on an almost daily basis. It is not always clear whether this is the case as far as the regional
police forces are concerned. Information supplied in writing by TBI, 5 September 2011.
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