Dorset Police arrested seven people as part of a week-long operation to protect children from abuse, which concluded on Sunday, February 23, 2026.
The arrests were part of a national ‘intensification week’ led by the National Crime Agency and the National Police Chiefs’ Council. Six people were arrested by the force’s specialist Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT), while another suspect was taken into custody at Gatwick Airport in connection with alleged sexual offences against a child.
During the operation, one person was charged with exposure and outraging public decency. Officers also interviewed a suspect regarding an investigation into an injured infant; that individual was later released under investigation while enquiries continue.
As part of the safeguarding effort, police carried out several visits to keep children safe, including a visit to a school to speak with a child following a third-party report. Detective Superintendent Jim Beashel said the activity is a “snapshot of the work that we are constantly undertaking to ensure vulnerable children are protected and perpetrators of child sexual abuse are held to account.”
The local effort was supported by the National Crime Agency and the National Police Chiefs’ Council. Police are urging the public to stay alert and report any suspicious behaviour to help identify victims and stop offenders.
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