NSPCC 'snapshot' of court cases reveals 2m online child sex abuse images

More than two million indecent online images of children were circulated by 100 child sex offenders convicted in the last 20 months, the NSPCC has found.  

The huge haul of images seized by police is revealed in a selection of news reports on court cases from across the UK studied by the charity. Although a snapshot, this is the first time that the number of online child abuse images being distributed has been counted in this way. 

All cases resulted in criminal convictions.(1) Ten per cent 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 used peer-to-peer file sharing or distributed pictures of child sex abuse online.(2) One in six had a conviction for sexually assaulting or grooming a child for sex.

Nearly 50,000 photographs and videos confiscated were in the worst categories of abuse with some showing children and even babies being raped by adults.  

One in four offenders held a 'position of trust', which allowed them direct contact with children. These included teachers, school workers, clergymen, medical professionals, policemen and a social worker.

NSPCC head of public affairs and campaigns Diana Sutton said: "The scale of graphic child sex abuse pictures and videos over the internet is very alarming. The number of images seized in these cases is enough to cover the pitch at Wembley Stadium twice over (3) - and this is just a sample.  Many more people were convicted for possessing, making and distributing indecent images of children online during the same period.(4)

"Children and babies are being seriously sexually assaulted to feed the demand for these photos and videos.  And each time they are viewed, more degradation is heaped on the young victims.

"Recent years have seen some welcome measures in the UK to drive child abuse images from the internet. But the battle is far from won. Offenders are now trying to keep under the radar by using peer-to-peer file-sharing software instead.

"The NSPCC is calling on the next government to work with industry and law enforcement agencies on an action plan to combat peer-to-peer file sharing.

 "Making the internet safer for children should be a priority for all Parliamentary candidates during the general election campaign. In particular, we are calling on party leaders to show their commitment now to putting this disgusting industry out of business."
 
Ends
NSPCC media office on 020 7825 2602 or out of hours mobile 07976 206 625

Regional media offices

East & West Midlands: 0116 274 7889, out of hours 07866 545257 / 07970 746272.

North West, Yorkshire & Humber: 0113 229 9343, out of hours 07929 201096.

London, the South East & East of England: 01293 651841, out of hours 07966 527987.

Northern Ireland: 028 9035 5765, out of hours: 07920 531480 / 07779 010219.

Scotland, the North East & Cumbria: 0207 650 6767, out of hours 07760 2702021.

Wales & the South West: 0203 188 3655, out of hours 07977 127064.

Notes to editors
(1) Analysis of 100 cases reported in local and national news of people convicted or cautioned between September 2008 and April 2010 for possessing, making or distributing indecent images of children and/or child sexual abuse.  All but one convicted offenders were men.

(2) Peer-to-peer file sharing software enables people to take and offer files directly from each other's computers. Sex offenders can use this software to search for, download and distribute images of child sexual abuse.

(3) There is no standard size for a digital image viewed on a computer.  For the purpose of this calculation we use an image size of 10cm x 10cm.  2,000,000 10cmx10cm images = 20,000m2.   Wembley stadium football pitch is 105m x 69m = 7245m2. 

(4) For context, 1,402 people were proceeded against or found guilty in cases involving indecent images of children in 2007. Government statistics do not separate out offences relating to indecent images online, which means this includes offences involving printed photographs and pseudo-images. (Source: Offending and Criminal Justice Group (RDS), Home Office, Ref IOS 503-04)

About the NSPCC's I Stand for Children campaign
The NSPCC is asking candidates from all major political parties to stand up for protecting children as part of its I Stand for Children campaign.  The campaign aims to make child protection a priority for the next Government so more tragic cases of abuse can be avoided.  For more information, visit www.istandforchildren.com

About the NSPCC
The NSPCC is the UK's leading children's charity specialising in child protection and its vision is to end cruelty to children. The NSPCC runs projects and services across the United Kingdom and Channel Islands, including ChildLine, the UK's free, confidential 24-hour helpline for children and young people and the NSPCC Helpline for adults concerned about the safety of a child. It helps over 10,000 children and their families every year.