Meet the detective who leads the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team

Meet DS James Somersall.

James has worked for Durham Constabulary for 26 years and now leads the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team, a role he’s held for the past six years.

A career detective, having worked in response, CID, major crime and intelligence, he moved into this area of policing knowing the reality is simple… what happens online can very quickly become harmful in the real world.

The work is unpredictable and often tough, as James’ team deal with the most serious level of indecent images of children and work against the clock to try and catch the perpetrators and safeguard children.

“You never know what you’re going to come across,” James says. “Some days are incredibly rewarding, and others are emotionally draining.”

Alongside this, one of the hardest parts of the job is the impact on families when an arrest is made, but James and his team continue to work relentlessly, often out of sight, to keep children safe.

His advice to young people is: “never feel pressured to send an explicit image. Once it’s shared, you lose control of where it goes, and the consequences can be much bigger than you imagine.”

For help and advice you can visit: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/sexting-sending-nudes/?ac=3225