WITH access to the internet growing daily, more children are finding their way online.

But far from being a safe place, many youngsters fall prey to predators using the internet to groom children and distribute sick pictures.

In recognition of the growing problem, Fife Police now has a dedicated team of detectives working to target those who download indecent images of children.

The high tech, specialised unit has two forensic detectives and one civillian who use the internet to gather intelligence and build cases against these individuals, and a further five officers handle arrests and interviewing of suspects.

Detective superintendent Garry McEwan, who is head of crime management with Fife Police, oversees the work undertaken by the computer crime unit.

He is keen to demonstrate that the force it is taking a stand on the traffic of child pornography and grooming.

He said: "In the past, the Scottish police weren't proactive in these cases. Someone would alert us then we would react.

''Now we are trying to make these investigations before the offences have got to a stage that children are being harmed and abused.

"We're able to follow the electronic footprints left by those who download these images, and we have the capacity and capability to monitor and investigate their footprints."

Supt. McEwan said that on a whole, the problem is growing year on year.

He added: "This area of criminality is just exploding. We've only been scratching the surface so far, and we are currently investing a lot of resources both financially and in terms of staff to make sure we are targetting the right people.

''The fact is, the internet is creating a virtual world, and that often hides the fact that behind that world there are real people and real victims of crime and exploitation.

"They mostly make contact through things like chat rooms and social networking, and that can lead to grooming. The grooming occurs over days, weeks and months.

''The individual will often build up a false persona to create the impression that he or she is a juvenile also, and can agree to meet up with the victim.

''That is where the family has to come into play and take an active interest in what their children are doing. If they have any suspicions that they are subject to exploitation they should notify us."

The computer crime unit has investigated hundreds of these cases, as well as working with and sharing information with similar units in other police forces.

Supt. McEwan said: "It's concerned family members, friends or relatives, who usually bring things to our attention, or intelleigence from the internet. We will become aware that there are images being circulated in Fife then we will build a case and get justification to search that person's home and to confiscate electronic equipment.

''We will then interview them and if they're charged then the Procurator Fiscal takes control of that case."