Intl police operation reveals UK-based "paedophile ring"

LONDON, Feb 21 (Reuters) A global police operation has uncovered a suspected paedophile ring which is based in Britain and has more than 300 members worldwide.

The London-based Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) said today that an unknown number of children had also been rescued from possible sexual abuse.

British, Australian, Canadian and US detectives operated in shifts on the Internet to infiltrate the suspected paedophile ring.

''There have been a number of arrests and a number of children rescued from abuse,'' said CEOP chief executive Jim Gamble.

''We closed what we believe was a paedophile ring with in excess of 300 members. Principal suspects were in the UK,'' he added No further details were released of what was described as an ongoing operation.

The agency was set up last April to group together police, computer industry experts and specialists from children's charities in one group.

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