Child sex offences involving the internet top 3,000

Figures published by the charity, garnered from 38 police forces across England and Wales, found that during 2015/16 the internet was used in 3,186 sexual offences against children. Out of these, 272 victims of sexual offences were under 10 years old - the youngest victim was a one year old baby.

Since April 2015 it has been mandatory for police to record whether sexual offences against under-18s have an online element - a so-called "cyber flag".


But the NSPCC is concerned that not all forces are using the flags. While some recorded hundreds of cyber-flagged crimes, others had fewer than 10 and the NSPCC found that "a small number of forces said they weren't using, or didn't know about the cyber flag".

NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said: "These figures confirm our fears that the online world is playing a significant role in the sexual abuse of children in the UK.

"It's clear that a large volume of sexual assaults and rapes of children have involved the use of the internet - for example by grooming victims before abusing them offline, or live-streaming the abuse.

"We know grooming is on the rise because children are increasingly telling our ChildLine service how they are being targeted online.

"Predatory adults posing as children try to meet them or blackmail them into meeting up or performing sexual acts on webcams, which obviously terrifies them and can leave some feeling suicidal."

Wanless added that the figures also highlight how police are under "increasing pressure to cope with online offences" and called for greater resources and training to help forces cope. In addition, he called on the government to ensure that all victims receive mental health support to help them recover from their ordeal.

Simon Bailey, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for child sexual abuse, said: "Without doubt the digital world has opened up new avenues for potential perpetrators to gain access to children and act on their sexual interests."

He added tackling child sexual abuse was "a priority for every police force in England and Wales" and that over the last four years there had been an estimated 80 per cent increase in the reporting of such crimes to police "with non-recent and online abuse forming the key growth areas".