AN international paedophile crackdown has come to the Fens.

Officers from the Public Protection Unit have seized more than 50 computers, 36 hard drives and hundreds of media storage devices in the county as part of a global investigation into internet downloads of indecent child images.

Working with the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, they have also raided 12 properties to investigate any Cambridgeshire links to the use of an illegal website believed to be hosted outside the UK.

Detective Inspector Adam Gallop said Operation Darcey is “part of our ongoing efforts to protect children and target paedophiles” and said: “The viewing of indecent material fuels child abuse and must be considered one of the most abhorrent crimes to be committed.”

The lead investigator warned that the growth of the internet “creates a massive market for images of children being abused” and said: “My concern is that people feel safe viewing and storing these images on their computers at home.

“My message is that they are not.”

DI Gallop, of Cambridgeshire Police, went on to say: “If you are looking at these types of images do not feel safe. We will come through your door, if not today then maybe over a year after you have viewed them.”

Equipment seized during this week’s crackdown will now be reviewed by specially trained officers.

A 21-year-old man from Peterborough was arrested in connection with one raid and has been bailed to return to Thorpe Wood Police Station on October 7.