Online child abuse reports continue to increase
Reports of online child abuse continue to increase with nearly 2,000 offences recorded by Police Scotland in 2022 – 23.
During the reporting year (1 April 2022 – 31 March 2023), 1,928 online child sexual abuse crimes were recorded in Scotland, a 6.6 per cent increase (20 more crimes) on the five-year mean.
In the same period, dedicated online CSA enforcement teams (formerly Op Parror), carried out 709 investigations, recovering both indecent images of children (IIOC) and/or child sexual abuse material. A total of 486 arrests were made and 776 children were protected.
Tackling online child abuse remains a key priority for Police Scotland, and this includes working with partners to prevent abuse and divert potential perpetrators from committing offences.
Independent charity, Stop It Now, Scotland, a key partner, supports people worried about their own or someone else’s sexual thoughts and behaviours towards children. The charity is running a social media campaign from today calling on anyone concerned about their online behaviour regarding children to seek confidential and anonymous help now.
Detective Chief Superintendent Sam Faulds, head of Public Protection and Police Scotland’s National Child Abuse Investigation Unit (NCAIU), said: “Behind every image of abuse shared online is a child. These images are viewed and shared thousands, if not potentially millions of times around the world. This is a horrific trade in trauma and misery.
“Grooming, indecent communications and sharing indecent images are all serious criminal offences, with serious consequences for the perpetrators.
“We continue to build our cyber capability and expertise to identify child victims. Offenders need to understand they will be identified, arrested and will face the consequences of their actions: not just a conviction but the potential loss of family, reputation and livelihood.
“Abusers are responsible for their criminal behaviour, it’s up to them to take action and get help. Our partner Stop It Now, offers that help. Make the call, get help and stop the unacceptable abuse of children.”
Stop It Now! Scotland’s latest data shows that 10,303 people in Scotland sought help via its online self-help resource or confidential helpline in 2022-23, three times the number who sought help in 2020-21.
Stuart Allardyce, Director of Stop It Now, Scotland, said: “This inarguably shows that anyone on a pathway to offending, or at the early stages of offending will seek out anonymous and confidential support. It also shows that there are a lot of individuals who are aware that what they are doing is wrong, they feel shameful about it and are motivated to change.
“Prevention is at the heart of our approach to child protection. Viewing sexual images of under-18s causes huge harm to the children in them. We help those who are worried about their behaviour express their concerns, provide practical support, and challenge, that helps keep children safe. It is possible to stop and to stay stopped with our help, and we know from overwhelming evidence that it is easier for people to change their behaviour through support than trying to change on their own. We also know that people who engage in this behaviour need support with their mental health, compulsive behaviours and feel trapped in a cycle of behaviour.
“Many individuals who are arrested for this type of offence tell us they wish they had known there was anonymous support, which is non-judgemental, to help them stop viewing illegal images or engaging in illegal conversations online.”
Anyone with concerns about child sexual abuse can call the Stop It Now! Scotland team on 0131 556 3535 (open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday) or call the UK helpline 0808 1000 900 (open 9am–9pm Monday-Thursday, 9am–5pm Friday). Callers do not need to give identifying information, so can remain anonymous. Online self-help is also available for people worried about their online sexual behaviour towards children.
