The National Crime Agency (NCA) has warned that child sexual abuse (CSA) is becoming increasingly complex to police, with officers arresting an average of 1,000 potential offenders per month across the UK.

Key Factors

• Technology and AI: Advances in technology, including AI-generated images, are being exploited by offenders.
• Online platforms: Social media algorithms and digital communities are facilitating the sharing and promotion of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
• Accessibility: Abusive content is not confined to the dark web; it can also appear on mainstream platforms accessible to the public.

Rising Arrests

• The NCA reports that the number of arrests has roughly doubled in the last three years.
• In one week in January, 252 people were arrested, 118 charged, and 407 children safeguarded.
• Potential offenders are present in every community, and victims can be found in every school.

Emerging Trends

• Collaboration online: Offenders are connecting on encrypted platforms while using mainstream internet as a "discovery platform" to target children.
• Financially motivated sexual extortion (FMSE) is on the rise, particularly targeting young boys, with live-streamed abuse commissioned for as little as £20.
• Normalization: Algorithms may reinforce abusive behavior by connecting like-minded offenders and normalizing their actions.

Calls to Action

• Technology companies are urged to act urgently:
  • Make platforms hostile to offenders
  • Prevent children from sharing or viewing nude images
  • Improve detection of child sexual abuse material
  • Design platforms with safety in mind
• Government initiatives:
  • Funding for undercover officers online
  • A dedicated police taskforce to disrupt crimes and catch offenders
• Legislative response: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to close loopholes in the Online Safety Act to better protect children online.

NCA Statement

Rob Jones, NCA Director of General Operations, said:

"The scale and prevalence of the CSA threat has increased in severity and complexity over the years…This is not hidden in the dark web – it's being shared on social media and accessible on the clear web as well."

Becky Riggs, National Police Chiefs’ Lead for Child Protection, added:

"We need technology companies to act with urgency to make their platforms hostile environments for offenders."

The NCA emphasized that a whole-system approach is necessary, as policing alone cannot effectively protect children from online sexual abuse.