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28/04/2010
2m Images Circulated By Paedophile Group
The amount of indecent images of children circulated on the internet by just 100 sex offenders convicted in the last 20 months would cover a football pitch twice, it has been revealed.
The NSPCC investigation revealed that over two million images and videos were circulated.
In the shocking statement the children's charity said that the "alarming" haul was enough to cover the football pitch at Wembley Stadium twice over and this was "just a sample".
One in four of the offenders held a "position of trust" allowing them direct contact with children, the study revealed.
These included teachers, school workers, clergymen, medical professionals, police officers and a social worker.
Nearly 50,000 photographs and videos confiscated were in the most serious categories of abuse, with some showing children and babies being raped by adults.
A third of those involved were reported to have used peer-to-peer file-sharing.
The children's charity said sex offenders were using the software - which eliminates the need for a server or host - to stay "under the radar" and called on the next government to help combat it.
The two million photographs seized by police - some of which could be repeats of the same image - showed the "battle was far from won" on the issue, said the NSPCC's Diana Sutton.
Although a snapshot, the charity said it was the first time the number of online child abuse images being distributed had been counted in this way.
Each case included in the study resulted in criminal convictions.
The study showed 10% of those convicted had been hoarding child abuse images for five years or more before they were caught.
A third of offenders involved in the court hearings had shared files or distributed pictures of child sex abuse online.
One in six had a conviction for sexually assaulting or grooming a child for sex.
"Recent years have seen some welcome measures in the UK to drive child abuse images from the internet," said Ms Sutton.
The NSPCC is now calling on the next government to work with industry and law enforcement agencies on an action plan to combat peer-to-peer file sharing.
Ms Sutton said: "Making the internet safer for children should be a priority for all Parliamentary candidates during the General Election campaign."
(LB/GK)
The NSPCC investigation revealed that over two million images and videos were circulated.
In the shocking statement the children's charity said that the "alarming" haul was enough to cover the football pitch at Wembley Stadium twice over and this was "just a sample".
One in four of the offenders held a "position of trust" allowing them direct contact with children, the study revealed.
These included teachers, school workers, clergymen, medical professionals, police officers and a social worker.
Nearly 50,000 photographs and videos confiscated were in the most serious categories of abuse, with some showing children and babies being raped by adults.
A third of those involved were reported to have used peer-to-peer file-sharing.
The children's charity said sex offenders were using the software - which eliminates the need for a server or host - to stay "under the radar" and called on the next government to help combat it.
The two million photographs seized by police - some of which could be repeats of the same image - showed the "battle was far from won" on the issue, said the NSPCC's Diana Sutton.
Although a snapshot, the charity said it was the first time the number of online child abuse images being distributed had been counted in this way.
Each case included in the study resulted in criminal convictions.
The study showed 10% of those convicted had been hoarding child abuse images for five years or more before they were caught.
A third of offenders involved in the court hearings had shared files or distributed pictures of child sex abuse online.
One in six had a conviction for sexually assaulting or grooming a child for sex.
"Recent years have seen some welcome measures in the UK to drive child abuse images from the internet," said Ms Sutton.
The NSPCC is now calling on the next government to work with industry and law enforcement agencies on an action plan to combat peer-to-peer file sharing.
Ms Sutton said: "Making the internet safer for children should be a priority for all Parliamentary candidates during the General Election campaign."
(LB/GK)
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Report Warns Of Link Between Internet Use And Child Abuse
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Report Warns Of Link Between Internet Use And Child Abuse
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Internet to blame for rise in child abuse, says study
The widespread use of the internet is to blame for a 1,500% rise in child pornography convictions in the UK since 1988, according to a leading children's charity.
Internet to blame for rise in child abuse, says study
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16 October 2015
Kent Police Investigative 'Tool' Rolled Out Across EU
A "tool" developed by Kent Police and the University of Liverpool, which assesses the level of risk posed by a suspected paedophile and the likelihood of that person becoming a contact offender, is to be developed for use across Europe.
Kent Police Investigative 'Tool' Rolled Out Across EU
A "tool" developed by Kent Police and the University of Liverpool, which assesses the level of risk posed by a suspected paedophile and the likelihood of that person becoming a contact offender, is to be developed for use across Europe.
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