UPDATE: 2.51pm

The following action has been taken over the Gwent people arrested as part of this operation:

A 60-year-old man from Newport arrested in March on suspicion of Possession of indecent images of children has been bailed pending further enquiries (until 15/8/14)

A 39-year-old man from Pontypool arrested in April on suspicion of possession of indecent images of children has been bailed pending further enquiries (until 15/9/14)

A 44-year-old man from Cwmbran arrested in April on suspicion of possession of indecent images of children has been bailed pending further enquiries (until 13/8/14)

A 52-year-old man from Caerphilly arrested in April on suspicion of possession of indecent images of children has been released on police bail pending further enquiries (until 14/8/14)

A 59-year-old woman from Caerphilly arrested in April on suspicion of possession of indecent images of children has been released on police bail pending further enquiries (until 14/8/14

A 37-year-old man from Newport arrested in April on suspicion of possession of indecent images has been released on police bail pending further enquiries (to return 21/8/14)

A 60-year-old man from Caerphilly arrested in April on suspicion of possession of indecent images of children has been released on police bail pending further enquiries (until 6/8/14)

A 26-year-old man and a 48 year old woman from Caerphilly arrested in May on suspicion of possession of indecent images of children both have been released with no further action

A 52-year-old man from Caerphilly arrested in May on suspicion of possession of indecent images of children has been released on police bail pending further enquiries

A 46 year old man from Chepstow arrested in June on suspicion of possession of indecent images of children bailed pending further enquiries (to return 15/9/14)

A 27 year old man, a 29 year old man and a 21 year old man from Newport arrested in June on suspicion of possession of indecent images of children and bailed pending further enquiries (to return 10/9/14)

UPDATE: 10.39pm

FOURTEEN people have been arrested in Gwent as part of a UK-wide police crackdown on suspected paedophiles.

In South Wales a total of 51 people have been arrested in the six-month operation, which targeted those accessing indecent images of children online.

In the Gwent force area 14 people have been arrested, with South Wales Police reporting that 14 children have been protected as a result (as part of a joint investigation carried out by police and social care where it is believed a child is likely to suffer or suffering harm) and seven children safeguarded (referred to social services).

In Dyfed-Powys there have been seven arrests, five children protected and three safeguarded, while in the South Wales force area, 30 have been arrested, 23 protected and six safeguarded.

Of the 51 arrests in Gwent, South Wales and Dyfed-Powys, two were registered sex offenders. Several of those arrested had unsupervised access to children including a scout leader and a foster carer, while other local arrests included a former police officer and a social service manager.

Charging decisions are awaited in most cases, South Wales Police have confirmed, but so far 12 people have been charged with offences of possession and distribution indecent images of children.

Coordinated by the National Crime Agency, the national operation involved 45 police forces across Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

It has to date seen 660 arrests with more than 400 children across the UK safeguarded. The operation stayed covert until today in order to protect children, identify offenders and secure evidence.

Assistant Chief Constable for specialist crime in the South Wales Police force, Nikki Holland said: “This has been a huge operation where we have targeted numerous offenders accessing child abuse images. The majority of these people may have thought they were operating under the radar but we were able to identify them and this sends a strong message to other offenders – you will be caught.

“Nationally we have seen an unprecedented increase in the number of reports of sexual abuse of children and our primary aim is to protect children who were victims of, or might be at risk of, sexual exploitation.

“Children are victimised not only when they are abused and an image is first taken. They are victimised repeatedly every time that image is viewed.

“We also know that people who start by accessing indecent images online can then go on to abuse children directly.

"So the operation is not only about catching people who have already offended – it is about influencing potential offenders before they cross that line.

“Offenders need to know that the internet is not a safe anonymous space for accessing indecent images, that they leave a digital footprint, and that law enforcement will find it.”