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Operation Magenta, the largest ever operation against paedophiles using the Internet in the UK, took place today with dawn raids at 75 addresses. Those arrested aged from as young as 15 to 50 years old and, although the number of arrests is unclear, the tally is set to rise as more hard drives are examined.

Thirty four police forces across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland participated in the raid that marked the final phase of a six-month investigation. New software helped police trace paedophiles that used online chat-rooms to swap images of child pornography.

Detective Inspector Keith Tilly said: 'The occupations of those arrested, which include teachers, members of the medical profession and care workers obviously is significant as to the access to children these people had.' He added that some child abusers are known to have started by looking at images on the Internet.