Thousands of online grooming crimes against children recorded by police during six-year wait for online safety measures
| Published date | 24 August 2023 |
| Publication title | Chester Chronicle |
The Cheshire figures for 2022/23 show there were 124 cases, down from 128 in the previous year but marking a 396% increase on the figures five years ago which was 25 cases.
The new research shows that across the UK more than 34,000 offences were recorded by police over the same period. 5,500 offences took place against primary school children, with under-12s making up a quarter of known victims.
The new analysis of the scale and nature of child sexual abuse taking place on social media comes ahead of MPs and Lords making final decisions on the Online Safety Bill next month.
The NSPCC first called for social media regulation to protect children from sexual abuse in 2017 and has been campaigning for robust legislation ever since.
They said the number of offences and victims is likely to be far higher than those known to police.
In response, they are urging politicians on all sides to support the Bill in its final stages and pass this vital legislation.
The UK-wide figures also reveal:
The stark reality of sexual...
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