Scottish Police figures show that reports of child sexual abuse online have increased by 21%

Reports of child sexual abuse and exploitation online (OCSAE) in Scotland have increased by 21%, according to new data from Police Scotland.

Between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024, 2,055 cases of cyber sexual crimes against children were registered, 364 more than the previous year.

This comes as Police Scotland launches its latest campaign, #GethelpOrGetCaught, to prevent OCSAE, targeting people who may already have committed an offence or who are at risk of committing an offence.

Two thirds of this total were accounted for by three types of crime:

• Causing or forcing the viewing/hearing of sexual images/content.
• Indecent communication with a child.
• Possession/distribution of indecent images of children.

The extent of child sexual abuse and exploitation (OCSAE) on the Internet was highlighted in a recent study by the Childlight initiative at the University of Edinburgh.

PA Media

It is estimated that 300 million children worldwide fall victim to sexual abuse and exploitation on the Internet each year.

The National Crime Agency estimates that 1.3 to 1.6 percent of adults in the UK pose varying degrees of risk to children.

The extent of the threat is recognized as a national risk.

Police Scotland’s #GethelpOrGetCaught initiative refers people at risk of crime to the Lucy Faithfull Foundation Scotland’s Stop It Now service, which offers advice and support to prevent crime.

Detective Chief Superintendent Sam Faulds, head of Police Scotland’s Public Protection Division, which is responsible for child protection, said: “More and more of us are spending our lives online, and this is particularly true for children and young people.”

“Cybercrime is on the rise and our investigations are increasingly focusing on the internet to identify perpetrators and bring them to justice.

“During the summer holidays, many more children are at home and online.

“We want to reduce the risk and prevent young people from becoming victims of child abuse and exploitation on the Internet.

“Many of our key partners provide advice on online safety to young people and their parents.

“Our role is to take targeted action against perpetrators.

“Our prevention campaigns offer them a chance to stop, a way out, before they offend, before a child becomes their victim, before other lives are destroyed.

“We want to prevent children from becoming victims of online predators and will use all the tools at our disposal to identify perpetrators.

Police Scotland

“Think about it – it might not necessarily be a child you are communicating with or abusing online. It could be the police. Take your chance to get help or you will get caught.”

Stuart Allardyce, director of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation Scotland, said: “We have worked with hundreds of people who have either been arrested for online crimes against children or are concerned about their thoughts or behaviour towards children.

“Through our work, we know how difficult it is to seek help. We also know that those who behave in this way often need support with their mental health and compulsive behaviour and feel trapped in a vicious cycle of harmful actions.

“The reasons for viewing sexual images of children or engaging in online grooming are complex and many people realise that what they are doing is wrong. Seeking individual, anonymous and non-judgmental support is absolutely the right step. This can help people to stop viewing illegal images or engaging in illegal conversations online.

“By making the right choices and getting the support you need, you can put crime or potentially criminal behavior behind you and help protect children and keep them safe.”

Police Scotland’s campaign will run for six weeks across various social media platforms including Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat and Spotify.

Last month, 61-year-old Ian Heddle was convicted of aggravated sexual abuse of a child and possession of indecent images of children.

Heddle was arrested and charged in Scotland for possessing indecent images of children.

Police Scotland

After investigations, it emerged that he had also sexually abused a young girl in Thailand. He was subsequently arrested and charged with this crime.

The arrest was made under a law that protects children anywhere in the world from sexual abuse by British nationals.

Earlier this year, 42-year-old serial offender Benjamin Young was sentenced to 12 years in prison and life probation.

Young created and shared images and videos of child sexual abuse. He was identified and investigated by the National Child Abuse Investigation Unit in collaboration with international law enforcement partners.

The majority of perpetrators of sexual abuse on the Internet are male (90%). Most victims are female (54%).

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