Shocking Figures Show 2,000 Online Grooming Crimes in Wales, Urgent Call for Online Safety Bill
New data revealing the alarming extent of online grooming in Wales has prompted a leading children’s charity to call for the implementation of an Online Safety Bill. The NSPCC Cymru conducted research which found that nearly 2,000 online grooming crimes have been recorded by Welsh police over the past six years while children have been waiting for online safety legislation. The study analyzed information from Dyfed Powys Police, Gwent Police, South Wales Police, and North Wales Police, which recorded 1,753 Sexual Communication with a Child offenses since the introduction of the offense in 2017/18.
The figures indicate a slight increase in North Wales, with 101 reports recorded in 2022/23 compared to 98 the previous year. However, the number of offenses spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 114 recorded in 2020/21. Nationally, over 34,000 online grooming offenses were recorded by police during the same period, with 5,500 offenses against primary school children and under-12s accounting for a quarter of known victims.
One survivor, Sophia, who experienced online grooming as a teenager, shared her story. She was groomed by a man who masqueraded as a boy on social media. Sophia recounted the fear and control she experienced, with the groomer threatening to share explicit images of her with her friends and family if she ceased communication.
The NSPCC has been advocating for social media regulation to protect children from sexual abuse since 2017 and has been campaigning for robust legislation ever since. The draft Online Safety Bill was initially published over two years ago, and a commitment towards regulation was made by the government in 2018 following the NSPCC’s Wild West Web campaign.
The proposed legislation would establish a legal duty of care for tech companies toward young users. Tech companies would be required to assess their products for child abuse risks and implement safeguards to protect children. The bill would also grant regulatory authorities like Ofcom powers to address significant abuse taking place in private messaging, including the implementation of measures to identify and disrupt abuse in encrypted environments.
Sir Peter Wanless, Chief Executive of the NSPCC, emphasized the urgent need for the Online Safety Bill, stating that the number of offenses highlights the importance of protecting children from unsafe online platforms. He urged tech companies to ensure their sites and future services do not endanger children.
Cecile Gwilym, NSPCC Cymru’s Policy and Public Affairs Manager, expressed concern over the increasing threats to children’s online safety and urged the Welsh Government to collaborate with colleagues in Westminster to ensure the necessary measures are in place to protect children from abuse.
While the proposed legislation aims to address the issue of online grooming, the NSPCC still seeks assurances on the effective regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive technology. Additionally, they advocate for the establishment of an online child safety advocacy body to represent children’s interests and ensure emerging risks are identified and addressed.
As final decisions on the Online Safety Bill approach, the NSPCC is encouraging campaigners to reach out to MPs with personal messages emphasizing the need to create a safer online environment for children. It is crucial to pass comprehensive legislation that effectively tackles child sexual abuse and protects children from the risks associated with online platforms.
