THAMES Valley Police have arrested 34 suspected paedophiles as part of a national operation.
The force confirmed yesterday it had made the arrests over the past six months, but could not reveal how many, if any, were in Oxfordshire.
It was part of a national operation co-ordinated by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and caught people mainly using the internet to access indecent child images.
Police said the operation has helped safeguard more than 10 children.
Assistant Chief Constable John Campbell said: “This operation has seen a great deal of work being done, both in the Thames Valley and nationally, as all the forces involved came together to tackle those who would seek to sexually exploit children.
“I hope that this operation sends out a clear message to anyone who seeks to sexually exploit and abuse children and young people using the internet as a medium, that the internet is no longer a faceless void that allows those to prey on the most vulnerable members of our society.”
The NCA, which would not reveal its methods for tracking down suspects, worked with all 45 forces in the country, which led to 660 arrests and more than 400 children being safeguarded.
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