As child abuse image crimes increase, the NSPCC has called on Ofcom and tech companies to take action.  

Police data shows that, in 2022/23, police logged more than 33,000 offences where child abuse images were collected and distributed.  Compared with data from forces who had supplied figures this year as well as in previous years, there was a 25% increase in offences between 2021/22 and 2022/23. And a 79% increase on figures from five years ago (2022/23 compared to 2017/18).  The new data shows the widespread use of social media and messaging apps in child sexual abuse image crimes. This results largely from a failure to design child safety features into products.