Greater Manchester Police and the NSPCC have joined forces to tackle the escalating problem of child abuse on the internet.

In the first project of its kind in the country, a 'cyberbeat' project called E-spy combines the investigation expertise of officers in the Abusive Images Unit at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) with the child protection skills of the NSPCC's Special Investigations Service (SIS).

E-spy aims to trace and identify the child victims whose abused images appear on the internet. It will also look to track paedophiles who are responsible and bring them to justice.

In 1995, prior to the growth of the internet, GMP seized 12 indecent images of children. This has grown to at least a million images in the last year, of which the vast majority appeared on the internet. Assistant Chief Constable Dave Whatton, of GMP, said: "Project E-spy aims to show that victims and their abusers can be traced given the resources.

"The making and trading of child abuse images recognises no geographical boundaries. GMP have linked up with the NSPCC, which works across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, to ensure images are tracked and intelligence shared no matter where the abuse originates."

Two NSPCC social workers are now based full-time in GMP's Abusive Images Unit. They work side by side with the team, which consists of a detective inspector, a sergeant, three constables and two investigative support officers.

ACC Dave Whatton added: "This is a global problem, not just one that affects Manchester and we are committed to working together to protect vulnerable children and bring paedophiles to justice. Many of the offenders who use the internet to access and circulate such images, naively believe that they can do so anonymously. But I want to send a clear message to them, that our specially trained officers police the internet, as they would any other beat and so they will be caught and brought to justice."

NSPCC Director of Services for Children and Young People, Wes Cuell said: "The internet has made it much easier for paedophiles to organise and exchange images that fuel the horrific market in child abuse. Behind the images are real children who have suffered. We must make sure that children are protected and families supported.

"I would urge anyone who has concerns about a child to speak out."

The free NSPCC 24-hour Child Protection Helpline can be contacted on 0808 800 5000.