A CHILDREN'S charity is calling for action to stamp out the trade of child abuse images after figures revealed that 81 arrests were made in Surrey last year.
In response to a Freedom of Information Act request by NSPCC, Surrey Police revealed 81 people were arrested for taking, possessing or distributing indecent images of children.
Since 1995 the number of people convicted in England and Wales has risen from 85 to 1,495 in 2011.
NSPCC spokeswoman Julie Cole said: "The number of these dreadful images is absolutely appalling. And let's not forget only a handful of police forces could supply figures.
"The truly awful thing is that more and more children are being abused so these pictures can be produced and once in circulation they may stay there for many years.
"If we can halt this vile trade we will be saving countless children from suffering sexual assaults which have a huge impact on their lives.
"The authorities are working hard to clamp down on this but there are still far too many pictures available.
"It's time the Government and industry got together to find an answer to this problem which cannot be allowed to continue."