Whalley man ( 57) arrested in police raid on child porn

He has not been identified, and Lancashire police would only say he is one of the men aged from 27 to 61 who have been bailed pending further enquiries.

The operation, coordinated by the National Crime Agency, has targeted people accessing indecent images of children online.

It has been going on for six months but stayed covert until last week “in order to protect children, identify offenders and secure evidence,” said a police spokesman.

Law enforcement agencies are not revealing the methods they used to track down suspects so that they can use the same tactics again in the future.

The other Lancashire men arrested were from Accrington, Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley, Fleetwood, Lytham, Nelson, Rossendale, Parbold, Preston, Skelmersdale and Thornton Cleveleys.

Nationally the operation has seen 431 children safeguarded, 660 people arrested, 9,172 devices seized and 833 properties searched.

Detective Chief Inspector Claire McEnery, from Lancashire Constabulary’s Public Protection Unit, said: ““Tackling child sexual exploitation is a priority for Lancashire Constabulary and we are absolutely committed to preventing child sexual abuse, helping victims and bringing offenders to justice. Those people should know that we will find them, arrest them and put them before the courts.

“We are determined to stop children being abused and exploited; to prevent harm to those being abused, to help them stay safe online, and to get out of the exploitative relationship they are in; to bring to justice to all those who commit such abhorrent crimes and to ensure that the public are confident to come forward when they require our help.”