Over 100 people were arrested for possessing child abuse images in Derbyshire last year - the highest number in the East Midlands.
The shocking figures also show the county has one of the highest numbers in the country, with just five police forces in the UK reporting more arrests.
The NSPCC has now called for urgent action as figures have soared since the 1990s when the Home Office estimated only 7,000 hard copy images were in circulation in the UK.
Now at least five times that amount are being confiscated every day.
Derbyshire police revealed it investigates around 200 cases every year, and that some involve a large number of images - over 500,000.
Last year 102 people in the county were arrested for taking, possessing or distributing indecent images of children.
Fiona Richards, NSPCC regional head of service for the East Midlands, said: “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.”
Derbyshire police say they are taking action to stamp out the illegal trade in child abuse images.
A spokesman added: “The number of arrests made in relation to indecent images have increased considerably since 1995. This is thought to be mainly due to the increase of internet usage and the understanding of technology.
“The force has a dedicated Public Protection Unit that tackles child protection issues, based at police headquarters.”
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