TWENTY-FIVE people have been arrested and steps taken to protect more than 30 children in a probe into people accessing online images of child abuse.
The joint PSNI and National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation in Northern Ireland has also seen four people charged to date.
Police yesterday displayed items seized for forensic examination during Operation Jarra.
While the children captured in the images are not thought to be local, 32 children living or in contact with suspects have been made subject to care orders.
Detective Chief Superintendent George Clarke said the additional resources provided by the NCA since it became fully operational in the north in May had "helped ensure those who pose a threat to children are apprehended and brought before the courts".
"There is this perception that this sort of child abuse goes on elsewhere, not in Northern Ireland, but we do have very dangerous offenders in Northern Ireland and this joint operation with NCA further enhances our ongoing efforts to protect children and bring offenders to justice.
"This is a despicable crime against children. The PSNI and our colleagues in NCA have been working hard together, using a range of investigative techniques to ensure all opportunities are maximised to protect children from harm online and offline and bring offenders to justice and we will continue to do so."
Dr Zoe Hilton, head of child protection with the NCA, said the aim of the operation was to "protect children who are victims of, or might be at risk of, sexual exploitation".
"Online images are not a 'lesser' form of abuse. Every child in those images has been sexually abused, and every time someone looks at an image that child is victimised again. Knowing those images are out there has a devastating impact on victims.
"Some of the people who start by accessing indecent images online go on to sexually assault children directly, but not all do. That is why, as well as bringing offenders to justice, we want to prevent potential abuse taking place by stopping people from crossing that line.
"Be in no doubt that we can police the internet. It is not a safe haven for accessing indecent images of children, and if you do it you should expect to come to our attention."
