Strong message sent to child sex predators

There's satisfaction from New Zealand authorities for helping identify key distributors of child sexual abuse images.

Staff at the Department of Internal Affairs posed as offenders as part of their research into locating those trading pictures through social media websites.

One of the 12 children identified and removed from harm as part of the operation was from New Zealand.

Department spokesman Maarten Quivooy says they then handed that information on to international law enforcement agencies.

"I think we all agree that this is abhorrent and that we should do our best to stop it and I'm pleased that New Zealand initiated this but I'm even more pleased that it's led to an international effort to apprehend people and hold them accountable."

He says international law enforcement agencies across 20 countries have been working closely on the operation.

"One of the messages that comes out of this is that people can expect to be detected because of this commitment from enforcement agencies around the world whether it's in Australia, the UK, the United States, everybody is committed to stopping this kind of offending."

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain says charges have been laid in connection to that local incident.

"My understanding is that there's five people that have been prosecuted here in New Zealand but at a lower level and they weren't part of that 55 arrested as part of the higher level ring of child sex predators."

Mr Tremain is commending the work of Internal Affairs staff involved in the operation saying their efforts are to be applauded.

"I'm heartened by the fact that we have such dedicated people that are doing such an outstanding job at bringing these people to prosecution."

Head of Interpol's Crimes Against Children Unit, Mick Moran, echoes those views and says everyone involved did an excellent job.

"These are a higher grade of guy if you like but like I said already there's any amount of it out there and it's from A to Z."

ECPAT Child Alert national director Alan Bell says the New Zealand authorities have proved they're at the top of their game.

"Certainly ranks up there with other agencies around the world as a leader and I think it's great to bring these guys to justice."

Mr Bell says the operation sends a strong message to those involved with, or still in the trade.

He says while it's not the first case involving a New Zealand child, it's very damaging.

"Very serious that one of our own children has been abused and photographed and the knowledge that that image will remain up on the internet now."

He says the operation required a strong international effort.

"Shows really the importance of international cooperation between law enforcement and should send a pretty strong signal to offenders that wherever they are, they're going to be tracked down and caught."

Mr Bell says the New Zealand authorities have shown they're a key player in the crackdown of the trade.