Youngsters ‘at risk of using dating apps’

The Digital Secretary has said that he will write to Tinder and Grindr asking what measures they have in place to keep children safe after an investigation claimed that they are at risk of exploitation on such apps.

Police have investigated more than 30 incidents of child rape since 2015 where victims were sexually exploited after evading age checks on dating apps, The Sunday Times said.

The newspaper said records showed 60 further cases of child sex offences via online dating services, including kidnapping and violent sexual assault.

Jeremy Wright, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, described the findings as “truly shocking”.