NEARLY 80 people were rounded up by Devon and Cornwall Police in a blitz on suspected paedophiles across the two counties.

Those arrested in the operation, which extended over nine months, included three registered sex offenders and 16 people holding positions of trust and involved in sensitive occupations.

Police would not be drawn on where the suspects were arrested.

It is not known whether any of those detained were from the Teignbridge area.

Det Chief Insp Neil Ralph, of the force’s public protection unit, said: ‘We know some of the people who access indecent images of children online go on to abuse children directly and this operation has been focused on preventing this from happening.

‘Targeting offenders who access indecent images of children online influences potential abusers, and their criminal activity, and prevents children becoming victims of sexual abuse.’

And he warned abusers: ‘The internet is not a safe space for paedophiles to access and view indecent images of children as their activity leaves a digital footprint which we will find. We have a team of specially trained detectives within our public protection unit who are dedicated to finding and prosecuting paedophiles and are making arrests every day across the force.’

The operation also involved input from the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Association of Chief Police Officers.

A spokesman for the operation said: ‘ This direct action identified 52 children who were at risk. They are now safe and protected due to the support they were provided by the police and children’s services.’