INCIDENTS of child abuse image offences have risen by just under a third according to new figures.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has released new statistics which show that crimes involving images of child abuse have risen by 32% in the Thames Valley.
The figures come from an investigation conducted by the charity into the prevalence of child abuse crimes ahead of the implementation of the Online Safety Bill.
The bill is currently passing through the House of Lords and aims to hold senior managers of organisations responsible if their products contribute to serious harm to children.
However the NSPCC is urging policymakers to include platforms which put children at risk of sexual abuse.
Police figures examined by the charity showed that child abuse image crimes have increased by two thirds in the UK, rising 66% in five years.
Similar offences in the Thames Valley area have jumped by just under a third at 32%.
More than 900 offences which involved the sharing or possession of indecent images of children took place in the 2021/2022 period.
Figures showed that such offences increased nationally to their highest rates on record, which the NSPCC says is evidence that heightened risk during the pandemic “has not gone away.”
In response, the charity says that “unregulated” social media is fuelling online child sexual abuse and calls on the government to make amendments to the Online Safety Bill.
It is recommending the instatement of a “child safety advocate” as part of the bill, who would advocate for the victims of young victims.
The charity says that the role would reflect the experiences of young people as a “statutory counterbalance the power of the big tech lobby.”
The investigation showed that either Facebook, Instagram, or Whatsapp were used in one third of instances of child abuse which flagged a specific website.
It also cited research which showed that Snapchat is the social media app used most for child abuse offences, implicated in 43% of cases where platform data was provided.
Sir Peter Wanless, Chief Executive of the NSPCC, said: “These new figures are incredibly alarming but reflect just the tip of the iceberg of what children are experiencing online.
“We hear from young people who feel powerless and let down as online sexual abuse risks becoming normalised for a generation of children.
“By creating a child safety advocate that stands up for children and families the Government can ensure the Online Safety Bill systemically prevents abuse.”
He continued: “It would be inexcusable if in five years’ time we are still playing catch-up to pervasive abuse that has been allowed to proliferate on social media.”
More information about how to keep children safe online can be found via the NSPCC’s online safety hub: nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/
