A record-breaking police operation is arresting around one thousand suspected paedophiles every month across the UK, a senior officer has revealed, as new figures expose the staggering scale of both online child sexual abuse and the desperate search for help to prevent it.
Assistant Chief Constable Becky Riggs, the national police lead for child protection, stated that alongside these arrests, officers are safeguarding more than 1,200 children from mistreatment and abuse monthly. “This reflects the sheer scale of the threat we are confronting,” she said.
The stark reality of that threat is underscored by data from the Internet Watch Foundation, which found 2024 to be the worst year on record for online child sexual abuse material, with an 830% increase in identified webpages since 2014. In England and Wales alone, online child sexual abuse surged by 26% in 2024, now accounting for 42% of all recorded child sexual exploitation and abuse offences.
A Crisis Unfolding on Screens
ACC Riggs warned that policing alone is struggling to contain the crisis, particularly due to the speed and accessibility of online offending. “Enforcement alone cannot keep pace with the speed at which people can be drawn into harmful online behaviour,” she stated, advocating for a “whole system response” that includes preventative, confidential support services.
Technology is a key driver. Police figures indicate Snapchat was the most common platform in reported child exploitation and abuse offences (54%), followed by WhatsApp and Instagram. Advances like generative AI image tools and end-to-end encryption are creating new opportunities for offenders, while the livestreaming of abuse and financially motivated sexual extortion are growing concerns.
Disturbingly, half of online child sexual abuse crimes are now committed by children themselves, aged 10-17, with sharing indecent imagery being the most common offence within this group.
Breaking the Stereotype of an Offender
As enforcement action intensifies, so too does the demand for help to stop abuse before it starts. The Lucy Faithfull Foundation (LFF), a child protection charity, reported that 330,610 people accessed its “Stop It Now!” services in 2025—a 20% annual rise. Nationally, 332,000 sought support.
This surge challenges common perceptions. Dr Alexandra Bailey, head of psychology at LFF, said callers are often frightened by their own online behaviour but unsure if they need help. Data from 3,427 helpline contacts last year reveals a complex picture: 21% were under 25, 34% were married or in a relationship, and 26% had their own children.
“We hear every day from people who feel unsure whether they are ‘the kind of person’ who needs help,” Dr Bailey said. “That hesitation can mean problems escalate.”
The Push for Prevention and a “Whole System” Fix
The government’s Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Strategy aims to improve prevention, victim identification, and professional response. Reforms are also underway following the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, including plans for a new mandatory reporting duty and making grooming an aggravating factor in sentencing.
On the frontline, ACC Riggs, with 32 years of policing experience, has called for public protection gold command accreditation to improve multi-agency working. The National Crime Agency is leading the operational response and a national investigation into group-based child sexual exploitation.
Legally, several acts govern this area, from the Protection of Children Act 1978, which criminalises making or distributing indecent images, to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, which covers computer-generated images. The recently implemented Online Safety Act 2023 is also central to combating online harms.
Organisations like LFF, which runs a confidential helpline and a dedicated service for teenagers called “Shore,” argue that early intervention is critical. “Reaching out early isn’t about excusing harmful behaviour – it’s about stopping abuse before a child is harmed,” Dr Bailey emphasised. Research from 2015-2018 on the “Stop It Now!” campaign found it effectively increased help-seeking, with many callers reporting a change in behaviour.
For anyone concerned about their own or someone else’s behaviour, the Stop It Now helpline is available on 0808 1000 900.
