UHP among agencies joining forces with national charity and pledging to tackle online child sexual abuse
Agencies across Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly are joining forces with UK-wide charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation on a campaign to stop online child sexual abuse.
15 agencies and partnerships have pledged to take part in the campaign across NHS, local councils, law enforcement, and charities. These include University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Devon and Cornwall Police, NHS Devon, NSPCC Together for Childhood, Cornwall Council, Council of the Isles of Scilly, Devon and Torbay Probation Service, Our Safeguarding Children Partnership for Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly, Safer Cornwall, Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly Safeguarding Adults Board, Devon Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, Safer Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall SARC, Devon Partnership NHS Trust, and Royal Devon University Healthcare.
The campaign follows news that 275,000 people in the UK received support from Stop It Now helpline or online self-help last year. In Devon there has been a 29% increase in people seeking help from Stop It Now in 2024 compared to 2023, with Cornwall seeing a 37% increase.2
Working together, these agencies also aim to raise awareness of the scale and nature of online child sexual abuse in the local area, and how to stop it. This includes viewing sexual images of under-18s and online sexual grooming.
Viewing sexual images of under-18s and sexual conversations with under-16s are illegal, causing huge harm to children, and there are serious consequences including potential arrest, imprisonment and job loss. But there is confidential help available to stop via the anonymous Stop It Now helpline.
So that everyone knows what they can do to keep children safe, the campaign will include webinars for professionals, alongside print, broadcast, and social media to reach the general public. The campaign will signpost anyone in Devon, Cornwall, and The Isles of Scilly concerned about online sexual behaviour to the anonymous Stop It Now helpline to prevent child sexual abuse – before it happens.
Tom Squire, Head of Clinical Engagement at Lucy Faithfull Foundation said: “This campaign in Devon and Cornwall spotlights the problem of online child sexual abuse. It’s so important to have the active support of so many local agencies committed to preventing child sexual abuse in Devon and Cornwall.
“People who view sexual images of under-18s or have sexual conversations with children under 16 online come from all backgrounds and walks of life, and there is no one type of person who engages in this behaviour.
“People viewing sexual images of under-18s or having sexual conversations with under-16s online need to know that such behaviour is illegal and causes great harm. There are grave consequences once your behaviour is detected by police. But there is help to stop. Contact Stop It Now on 0808 1000 900 or visit www.stopitnow.org.uk for anonymous advice and support.”
Sheon Sturland, Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Superintendent said: “Devon and Cornwall Police is pleased to support the work of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, as whilst we will always tenaciously investigate any reports of the sexual abuse of a child in order to secure a conviction and the strongest possible sentence, we would rather that the harm such crimes cause didn’t happen in the first place.
“We will apply the same vigour to whatever form of abuse is reported to us, it does not matter when it happened. What someone who views sexual images of children needs to understand is that lasting harm has been caused to the children in the images, and that looking at them encourages other people to create more of them and so perpetuates and encourages further harm and abuse. Viewing sexual images of children is, of course, illegal in itself.
“It’s encouraging that last year more than 8,000 people in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly sought help from the Stop It Now helpline (0808 1000 900) or online self-help service. Seeking help and support from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation will, we hope, do exactly what this campaign proposes and stop abuse before it happens.
“However I must be crystal clear that the consequences for anyone who sexually abuses a child are severe. Since September of last year we have seen fifteen individuals in court for abuse, including both physical and online, which resulted in prison sentences ranging from 38 months to 30 years, a total of over 214 years. They were all local men aged between 31 and 73, some of the crime were recent, others not. For those sent to prison, there will also be the subsequent job losses and potential family breakdowns.
“We urge anyone concerned about their own or someone else’s online sexual behaviour towards children to use the Stop It Now helpline.”
Penny Smith, Chief Nurse, NHS Devon Integrated Care Board, said: “NHS Devon is committed to working collaboratively with partners to protect children from sexual abuse. The trauma of sexual abuse is significant, it impacts upon children’s health and wellbeing, upon families and upon our communities.
“Without the right support, we know that trauma can have lasting impacts into adulthood. We recognise the opportunities that health practitioners must identify children at risk and ensure that they are safeguarded. It is important that we also take a proactive, preventative approach and do all we can to reach those at risk of harming children.
“If you are concerned about your own thoughts or that of someone close to you, there is confidential, professional help available to address this before a child is harmed.”
Louise Arscott, Head of Devon and Torbay Probation, said: “Child sexual abuse perpetrators face some of the strictest supervision from the probation service as their crimes can lead to lifelong trauma for their victims. Offenders are also subject to thorough risk assessments, specialised treatment and cognitive behavioural therapy.
“In our day-to-day work, we encourage people who have already been through court, to use the helpline to support them once they have completed their sentence.
“If you are at risk of offending, get in touch with the Stop it Now helpline before you harm someone and before you come to the attention of the criminal justice system.”
Shelley Shaw, Development and Impact Manager at Together for Childhood Plymouth, said: “New and emerging technology is creating more opportunities for children to be sexually abused which is why we continue to support the Stop It Now campaign.
“Whilst the recent Online Safety Act is designed to make tech companies more accountable and responsible for the content placed on their platforms there is also an increasing need to help people who are concerned about their own thoughts and behaviours and to give them access to support to prevent them from offending.
“The success of the previous three Stop It Now campaigns in Plymouth has shown that people do access confidential help and advice when they know about it.
“We hope that this latest campaign aimed at prevention will help more people across Devon and Cornwall.”
