Three WA children have been rescued in Australia’s largest ever operation targeting those making and distributing child exploitation material.

Police charged 45 people with child abuse offences which was conducted in the lead up to National Child Protection Week.

One of those charged is City of Stirling councillor Keith Sargent.

35,000 images and videos were allegedly found on devices seized at more than 50 properties.

Detective Superintendent Gordon Fairman from the sex crime division said there was a wide range of alleged offences.

“We see all ranges,” he said at a media conference on Monday.

“For a person downloading this material on their mobile phone, to people who have quite a number of devices, and sophisticated devices.

“Obviously if there’s a lot of devices at a home, it pricks our interest a bit more because we’re really concerned about this material being recorded and then shared amongst others in those communities.

Image: WA Today