A LEADING children’s charity is calling for action to stamp out the “appalling” trade in child abuse images after figures revealed that 6,424,351 images were confiscated by police in Cambridgeshire in the last year.

The figures, released by the NSPCC, also revealed that 55 people were arrested last year in Cambridgeshire for taking, possessing or distributing indecent images of children.

Since 1995 the number of people convicted in England and Wales has risen more than 1,700 per cent from 85 to 1,495 last year (2011).

Det Insp Chris Balmer said: “These figures are shocking, but in Cambridgeshire we will continue to protect children and target paedophiles.

“The continued growth of the internet creates a massive market for images of children being abused.

“People should not feel safe viewing and storing these images on their computers at home as officers in Cambridgeshire will be knocking on their doors.

“The viewing of indecent material fuels child abuse and must be considered as one of the most abhorrent crimes to be committed. If you have concerns about anyone you know do not delay in contacting the police.”

In February, Kahung Sett-Wong, 38, of Provence Road, Huntingdon, was jailed for 12 months after police discovered more than 80,000 indecent images on his computer.

Dan Russell, NSPCC head of service for the East of England, said: “The number of these dreadful images is absolutely appalling. And let’s not forget only a handful of police forces could supply figures.

“The truly awful thing is that more and more children are being abused so these pictures can be produced and once in circulation they may stay there for many years. “If we can halt this vile trade we will be saving countless children from suffering sexual assaults which have a huge impact on their lives.

“The authorities are working hard to clamp down on this but there are still far too many pictures available. It’s time the government and industry got together to find an answer to this corrosive problem which cannot be allowed to continue.”