The Abusive Images Unit of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the Child Protection and Investigation Unit of the Hertfordshire Constabulary drove the six month investigation, dubbed Operation Magenta. Thirty five forces in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales were involved in the simultaneous execution of 75 warrants under the Protection of Children Act, at 7am on Wednesday. The number of arrests could increase after the examination of computer equipment seized during the raids.
Using software produced by SurfControl, the web and e-mail filtering company, GMP and Hertfordshire Constabulary officers were able to target people in the UK who posses and distribute indecent images of children via the internet.
Inspector Keith Tilley, Head of Hertfordshire Constabulary's Child Protection and Investigation Unit, said:
"Today's nation wide operation should send out a loud message to those people who use chat rooms to trade in indecent images of children. This activity is unlawful and is committed by people who often go on to commit further offences of abuse against vulnerable children. Hertfordshire, along with other forces, will continue to work to identify and track down those individuals who believe the internet gives them anonymity to continue their trade in abusive images of children. This is not the case and further operations like today's will take place in the future."
SurfControl’s software facilitates the tracking and tracing of illegal and threatening activity in chat rooms. The company said that this will shortly be made available to police forces across the UK.