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Nine men have been arrested and more than 100 electronic devices have been seized following a Gwent Police investigation into indecent images of children.

Three men from Caerphilly County Borough were among those arrested as part of Operation Javelin.

The operation, which ran between July 19 and July 23, was led by officers from the police’s online investigation team and supported by neighbourhood policing teams and special units.

In total, 107 electronic devices were seized as police carried out 11 search warrants across Gwent.

A 40-year-old man and a 30-year-old man, both from Caerphilly County Borough, were arrested on suspicion of making an indecent photograph of a child. They have both been released on police bail, pending further enquiries.

Meanwhile, a 28-year-old from Caerphilly County Borough was arrested on suspicion of making an indecent photograph of a child and possessing an indecent image of a child.

He was later released under investigation.

DI Jamie Cooper, of Gwent Police’s cybercrime unit, said: “Our intelligence gathering has allowed us to make nine arrests of people suspected of being involved in the online exploitation of children through possessing or sharing indecent images.

“We’ve also made 12 children safer by identifying those at risk and ensuring appropriate conditions are in place to keep them safe. 

“This was completed with the assistance of partner agencies and forms part of our safeguarding work linked to this investigation.

“Our enquiries are continuing to ensure that those responsible for the online exploitation of children are brought to justice.”

He added: “It is important to remember that some of the images captured during our intelligence gathering may have been sent by a child.

“We want to educate young people in particular that not only is sharing an incident image – which could be of themselves – a criminal offence, but it can be recirculated very easily which may lead to further inappropriate sexual communication online.”

Of the nine people arrested, one – a 35-year-old man from Newport – has been charged and will appear at Newport Crown Court on Friday, August 6

He was charged with three counts of possessing indecent images of children and two counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Gwent Police works with a number of organisations, including StopItNow, to combat the sexual abuse of children.

Who else was arrested?

• A 45-year-old man from the Ebbw Vale area was arrested on suspicion of making an indecent photograph of a child. He was released on police bail pending further enquiries.
• A 19-year-old man from the Abergavenny area was arrested on suspicion of making an indecent photograph of a child. He was released on police bail, pending further enquiries.
• An 18-year-old man from the Cwmbran area was arrested on suspicion of making an indecent photograph of a child and distributing an indecent photograph of a child. He was released on police bail, pending further enquiries.
• A 39-year-old man from the Newport area was arrested on suspicion of making an indecent photograph of a child. He was released on police bail, pending further enquiries.
• A 25-year-old man from the Newport area was arrested on suspicion of making an indecent photograph of a child. He was released on police bail, pending further enquiries.