NEARLY 250 people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are being investigated as part of the UK's biggest hunt against Internet paedophiles.

The Daily Echo can reveal a total of 238 residents are on a list of more than 7,000 British suspects identified as part of the US-based Operation Ore inquiry into users of child porn sites.

Today Hampshire Constabulary refused to confirm how many local suspects had been arrested, saying the investigation was ongoing.

Det Supt John Fox, right, head of specialist investigations, told the Daily Echo: "We are still operationally involved and are not prepared to comment on the number of arrests or convictions Hampshire Constabulary has secured.

"It is Association of Chief Police Officers national policy that individual figures are not issued by forces but instead national statistics are made available on the success of police forces in combating and exposing those involved in paedophile activity.

"We are committed to actively pursuing paedophile activity wherever it manifests itself in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

"The paedophile investigation unit is committed to thoroughly and vigorously investigating the crime, and those involved will be arrested as their activity is exposed."

Around the world, Operation Ore has given police direct leads on 250,000 suspected Internet paedophiles.

In Britain, the centrally funded National Criminal Intelligence Service initially sifted through names to prioritise individuals considered to be the worst offenders.

Hampshire police have always refused to disclose the number of Operation Ore suspects in the county.

But the figure has now been revealed as part of the force's new control strategy, which sets out its strategic priorities for the next six months.

The document details how Hampshire police intends to tackle five key areas of criminal activity - class A drugs, house burglaries, vehicle crime, serious and organised violent crime, and Islamic and Irish-related terrorism.

Describing Operation Ore as a major commitment, the strategy singles out use of the Internet as the police's biggest current challenge, making investigations more difficult.

The report also provides a broad overview of Hampshire police's current situation, including:

There are 1,252 registered sex offenders living in the county, along with 39 potentially dangerous offenders.

Southampton and Portsmouth remain the main areas with crack cocaine problems.

Drugs such as ketamine. LSD, angel dust and magic mushrooms are increasing in popularity.

Violent crime accounts for just over 20 per cent of all crime in the county.

Stop checks carried out in 2003 found 62 per cent of vehicles were found to be committing an offence.

There has been an increase in burglaries where car keys and subsequently high-value vehicles have been stolen.