West sees surge in child abuse image offences, NSPCC says

Child abuse images offences have more than doubled in the past five years in the West, according to the NSPCC.

Figures from the charity show Avon and Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire police recorded 1,888 crimes last year, compared with 662 in 2017-18.

Avon and Somerset saw the biggest rise in reported crimes, from 370 offences in 2017/18 to 1,108 last year.

The NSPCC said "swift and ambitious action" was needed by tech companies to "address what is happening".

Data released under the Freedom of Information Act, showed more than 33,000 offences involving the sharing and possession of indecent images of children were recorded across the UK last year - up by 25% on last year.

Across the West, all police forces saw a rise in the number of offences reported, compared to five years ago.

The NSPCC said the new data shows that a "failure to design child safety into products" has led to "widespread use" of social media and messaging apps in child sexual abuse image crimes.

The charity said companies should be "required" to use technology that can help identify and tackle grooming, sextortion and new child abuse images.

It also wants regulator Ofcom to "strengthen its approach to tackling child sexual abuse".

Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC CEO, said: "It's alarming to see online child abuse continue to rise, especially when tech companies should be acting to make their sites safe by design ahead of incoming regulation.

"Ofcom has been quick off the blocks but must act with greater ambition to ensure companies prioritise child safety in the comprehensive way that is so desperately needed."

Susie Hargreaves, from Internet Watch Foundation, said: "This is a truly disturbing picture, and a reflection of the growing scale of the availability, and demand, for images and videos of children suffering sexual abuse.

"The people viewing and sharing and distributing this material need to know it is not a victimless crime. They are real children, suffering real abuse and sexual torture, the effects of which can linger a lifetime."

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