NSPCC FOI Uncovers 152 Internet Sex Offences In Wandsworth Borough
Web’s growing role in child sex offences apparent from new police statistics
image: NSPCC
Figures obtained by the NSPCC demonstrate the growing role played by the internet in child sex offence cases across London. Statistics provided under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) evidence that during 2016/2017 152 cases were reported in the borough of Wandsworth involving a child sex offence facilitated by the internet. The offences range from distribution of indecent images to the rape of children as young as 13.
Social media is the most prevalent means by which crimes of this nature occur, with offenders using sites such as Facebook to target and groom children before sexually assaulting them. Although the minimum age for having a social media profile on most sites is 13, NSPCC research has shown that 92 percent of children and young people have accessed social media sites before this age.
In response to the revelation of the internet’s growing role in child abuse crimes, the Met commented: “The figures obtained by the NSPCC reflect our experience here in London where our Child Sexual Exploitation Teams are seeing more and more cases of sexual abuse against children with an online element and this has been increasing over the past two years. It is a real concern for us and although we have had a number of recent convictions, there are also significant current investigations we're working on that demonstrate the importance of being alive to this threat.”
It is likely that changes to the way in which children use the web are in part responsible for the increase in offences of this sort. Emma Motherwell, NSPCC Local Campaigns Manager for London and the south east commented: “With the reduction of the use of desktop computers in favour of portable devices like tablets and smart phones, parents may not know what their children are exposed to because they can be in their bedrooms or out of the home.”
She continued: “In the long summer months, the online world can provide many benefits for children. It gives them instant access to a world of information, reduces boredom and provides a connection to friends and family. However, it is not without risks and often parents can find it hard to keep track of what their children are doing online.”
Emma added: “Parents need to start conversations with their children about what they are viewing online as early as possible. We have found that discussing this topic with your child and regularly talking to your child is the best way to keep them safe. Setting some boundaries about what they view online can create a good level of trust about this important issue in your family.
“If parents aren’t sure how to start the conversation, there are lots of online tools on the NSPCC website to give them the knowledge and confidence to talk about what can be an often overwhelming topic.”
The NSPCC has the following tips which can help start the conversation: 1. Have the conversation early and often – start talking to your children at an early age and keep talking as they get older and technology changes. Little and often is key, don’t try and cover too much at once. 2. Explore sites and apps together – this will give you a much better idea of what they are looking at and enable you to encourage and support them. 3. Know who your child is talking to online – there, children often don’t see people as strangers, but as online friends. Make sure you know who they are friends with online, and explain that it’s easy for people to lie about themselves. 4. Set some boundaries - set some rules, including when and where they can go online, what websites they can visit and how they share images. 5. Make sure the content is age appropriate - ensure your child is using sites right for their ages, and don’t feel pressured into signing up to websites they are too young for. The age limits are there for a reason. 6. Use parental controls - Set up parental controls to stop children from seeing unsuitable or harmful content online. 7. Check they know how to use privacy settings and reporting tools - check the privacy settings on accounts like Facebook, and remind children to keep any personal information safe and what to do if they see anything that upsets them |
Tom Ball
August 9, 2017