Grooming and sextortion

  • The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) reported a 72% increase in sextortion cases in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, highlighting the growing threat of online sexual exploitation of minors.

    IWF, 2025

  • The National Crime Agency (NCA) reported a sixfold increase in online child abuse cases between 2022 and 2024, with perpetrators often coercing victims into sharing explicit material for exploitation.

    NCA, 2024