Pandemic ‘has created a perfect storm for abuse’
INSTAGRAM MOST USED PLATFORM FOR GROOMING
INSTAGRAM was the most used platform in child grooming crimes during the first lockdown, research by the NSPCC suggests.
More than 1,200 online grooming crimes were recorded nationally against children in the three months from April to June, with the true scale of the problem likely to be much higher.
In Leicestershire, 29 offences were recorded between April and June, compared with 69 in the year to April 2020, 89 in the previous 12 months and 59 in 2017/18.
Instagram was used in 37 per cent of cases nationally where the platform was recorded, compared with 29 per cent over the previous three years.
In total, the Facebook-owned apps Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp were used in 51 per cent of instances where the means of communication was recorded.
Snapchat was used in 20 per cent of instances for which data was available.
The NSPCC said the pandemic had created a “perfect storm” for online offenders and believe these
As the pandemic intensifies the threat children face online, bold and ambitious action is needed
NSPCC
figures could mark the start of a surge in online grooming crimes.
It is understood the Online Harms White Paper consultation response has been signed off by the Departure of Culture, Media and Sport and the Home Office and is sitting with Boris Johnson.
The charity urged the Prime Minister to ensure companies and named managers can be held criminally responsible for failing to protect children from avoidable harm and abuse.
It wants the Online Harms Bill to compel firms to consider child protection when they design their sites to prevent harm rather than react once the damage is done.
It said tough deterrents would be needed to make some of the world’s biggest companies stand up and listen.
NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said: “Families have long paid the price for big tech’s failure to protect children from abuse, but the Prime Minister has the chance to turn the tide and put responsibility on firms to clean up the mess they created.
“As the pandemic intensifies the threat children face online, bold and ambitious action is needed in the form of a world-leading Online Harms Bill.
“This means legislation that is tough on online crimes against children and regulation that holds tech companies and bosses financially and criminally responsible if they continue to turn a blind eye to entirely avoidable harm.”