The NSPCC estimates that more than 25,300 child abuse image and sexual grooming offences have occurred since the Online Harms White Paper was published.
Based on the latest police recorded crime data from the first three months of 2019/2020, it is estimated an average of one online abuse offence against a child was recorded every 16 minutes in England and Wales in just over nine months.
In Yorkshire & Humber it is estimated there were 3,000 such offences since the Online Harms White Paper was published, averaging 11 online abuse offences a day.
It comes as the Online Harms Reduction Regulator Bill will be introduced into the House of Lords today, a Private Member’s Bill that requires Ofcom to prepare for regulation by effectively appointing it as an interim online harms regulator.
Andy Burrows, NSPCC Head of Child Safety Online Policy, said: “By our estimates, an average of 90 potential online abuse crimes against children come to light a day, so it is crystal clear regulation cannot come soon enough.
“The Prime Minister must confirm plans to press ahead with a comprehensive Duty of Care, and urgently introduce an Online Harms Bill that will deliver a well-resourced regulator with the powers to take on big tech.
“Anything less will let tech giants off the hook and have a devastating impact on tens of thousands of children, their families and law enforcement who are left to fight increasingly complex online child abuse day in and day out.”
The NSPCC estimates that more than 25,300 child abuse image and sexual grooming offences have occurred since the Online Harms White Paper was published.
Based on the latest police recorded crime data from the first three months of 2019/2020, it is estimated an average of one online abuse offence against a child was recorded every 16 minutes in England and Wales in just over nine months.
In Yorkshire & Humber it is estimated there were 3,000 such offences since the Online Harms White Paper was published, averaging 11 online abuse offences a day.
It comes as the Online Harms Reduction Regulator Bill will be introduced into the House of Lords today, a Private Member’s Bill that requires Ofcom to prepare for regulation by effectively appointing it as an interim online harms regulator.
Andy Burrows, NSPCC Head of Child Safety Online Policy, said: “By our estimates, an average of 90 potential online abuse crimes against children come to light a day, so it is crystal clear regulation cannot come soon enough.
“The Prime Minister must confirm plans to press ahead with a comprehensive Duty of Care, and urgently introduce an Online Harms Bill that will deliver a well-resourced regulator with the powers to take on big tech.
“Anything less will let tech giants off the hook and have a devastating impact on tens of thousands of children, their families and law enforcement who are left to fight increasingly complex online child abuse day in and day out.”
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