Twenty children have been protected after a series of Essex Police raids in connection with a six-month investigation into paedophile activity.
The force worked closely with the National Crime Agency to execute 31 search warrants as part of Op Notarise. It resulted in the arrest of 24 men on suspicion of the possession of indecent images of children.
Nine of the search warrants were executed in Colchester, five each in Chelmsford, Southend and Harlow, four in Basildon and three in Tendring.
The suspects have been released on bail pending further enquiries.
DI Danny Stoten, of Essex Police, said: "We have been working closely with the National Crime Agency to develop this intelligence and then execute search warrants and make arrests whenever possible.
"The information provided to us via Notarise has allowed us to pick up a range of suspects who had previously been operating under the radar.
"Offenders need to know that the internet is not a safe anonymous space for accessing indecent images. They leave a digital footprint and we will use all the means at our disposal to find it.
Anyone with information relating to child sexual exploitation or with suspicions that someone is using the internet to access indecent images should contact the Essex Police On-line Investigation Team on 101.
