Cambridgeshire Police face new challenges tackling online child grooming
Officers urge parents to stay alert as criminals target children on messaging apps
Fresh warnings are being issued by Cambridgeshire Police as they try to tackle online grooming gangs and keep children safe online.
Nearly one hundred and fifty crimes involving sexual communication with a child were recorded in the county in the last year, with parents across Cambridgeshire being urged to learn more about protecting their children online.
Nationally, police recorded more than seven thousand offences of sexual communication with a child in the past twelve months.
It's almost double the number since the law was introduced in twenty seventeen.
Data reveals that criminals are increasingly using private messaging platforms to target children.
We have to try and keep ahead of technology or keep up with the pace of technology
Dave Taylor from Cambridgeshire Police says:
“One of the challenges is education and making sure that everybody's aware of the message."
"It's making sure that we promote that through our partners and through all the different social media so we can get through to kids as well.”
He adds: “A challenge is always technology; we know that some of the online arena is really difficult and we have to try and keep ahead of technology or keep up with the pace of technology so that we're aware of all the different ways that people might use to try and go online and exploit children.”
Just be aware of what your children are doing online
He urges parents: “Just be aware of what your children are doing online. Be aware of the apps that they've got on their phones."
"You can look on police website and there's lots of advice there. There's lots of tools. There's options that you can install on children's phones as well to help.”
The latest research from the NSPCC is shining a light on the worrying trend, as police call for more awareness from parents to help keep children safe from online grooming.