Britain arrests hundreds of suspected pedophiles

In a massive national dragnet, British police have arrested more than 600 suspected pedophiles who allegedly accessed pornographic images of children on the Internet, authorities said Wednesday.
The sweep comes at a time of heightened sensitivity over pedophilia in a country where sensational stories of the sexual abuse of minors regularly headline the tabloids, which some critics accuse of whipping up public hysteria over the issue.

The operation is not only about catching people who have already offended. It is about influencing potential offenders before they cross that line. - Phil Gormley of Britain's National Crime Agency

Those arrested include doctors, lawyers, caregivers and former police officers, according to Britain’s National Crime Agency. Of the 660 suspects, 39 were known sex offenders.