UPPER MARLBORO, md. -- Sheriff's deputies conducted a big sweep in Prince George's County, arresting several people wanted on domestic violence charges.

Officers said more than 40 people were arrested between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

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"This is the fifth annual national domestic violence awareness roundup, in which law enforcement agents from around the country go out on this particular night en masse to lock up as many people as we can that are wanted for crimes of domestic violence," said Capt. Joe Aiello of the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month.

Aiello said the round-up is just a part of the ongoing operations of the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office, which he said was the first in the state to initiate a domestic violence operation that lasted 24 hours a day seven days a week.

Authorities said that since the program began four years ago in Prince George's County, sheriff's officers have arrested 600 people in the sweep operation.