British paedophiles have been travelling to Poland while claiming they are providing “humanitarian assistance” to refugees fleeing Ukraine, who include thousands of unaccompanied children.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) said 10 known sex offenders travelled to the country in the six week’s following the Russian invasion.
All 10 men were asked to leave Poland following an interview with immigration officers and law enforcement, and British authorities are working to deter others from travelling.
“For us it’s about making partners aware that these convicted child sex offenders are on their turf, for obvious reasons,” an NCA spokesperson said.
“There are at least 5,000 unaccompanied children who have been displaced from Ukraine, making sure they’re safe is absolutely paramount.”
Officials said convicted paedophiles are meant to declare their criminal record to countries they are visiting but “we find inevitably they haven’t”.
Efforts are currently centred around preventing sex offenders from travelling to Poland or other countries if not “for the right reasons”, and getting them out if they have not followed the rules.
The issue is among a “whole range of threats that have sprung up or been enhanced by this conflict” Ukrainian war, the NCA said.
They include modern slavery, human trafficking and organised immigration crime affecting refugees.
Police and the security services are also concerned about the potential “leakage” of firearms and weaponry.
There have also been increases in illicit financing, cyber crime and fraud, including the setting up of websites claiming to be aid agencies in a bid to take donations meant for Ukranians.
