Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : New Investigation Reveals Thousands of Young People Sharing or Watching Indecent Images of Children
A recent investigation conducted by The Guardian has uncovered a disturbing trend of thousands of young people being caught each year sharing or watching indecent images of children, including child abuse material. The figures were obtained through freedom of information requests to police forces across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and have raised serious concerns about the extent of this issue.
According to the obtained data, in some regions, the majority of individuals identified by the police as watching or sharing indecent images of children are actually under the age of 18. While some cases involve consensual sexting between teenagers, others involve the viewing of the most abhorrent and disturbing material. Detective Chief Inspector Tony Garner, who leads an online child sexual exploitation team, expressed his deep concern about the harm being witnessed and described the situation as feeling “completely out of control.”
One of the major factors contributing to this alarming trend is the early exposure to pornography, which desensitizes children and leads to an increasing interest in extreme and shocking material. Garner explained that young people searching for sexual videos of individuals their own age often stumble upon rape and abuse material. This exposure to violent and explicit content can have a profound impact on their developing sexuality and can even lead to the formation of harmful and illegal behaviors.
The investigation revealed that in 2022 alone, more than 6,000 children and teenagers were identified as watching or sharing online child abuse images across 21 police forces in England and Wales. Moreover, in several regions, children and teenagers accounted for more than half of all individuals linked to illegal image viewing. The figures from Cambridgeshire, for example, showed a significant increase in the number of under-18s involved in such activities.
The police forces and child protection charities are deeply concerned about these findings and are calling for swift action. They stress the urgent need for the implementation of the online safety bill, which includes measures to protect children from pornography. Additionally, they highlight the importance of addressing all forms of online sharing of sexual images, even when it is consensual, as such images can quickly be shared without the original taker’s control.
It is crucial that parents and guardians are aware of the risks associated with early exposure to explicit material and take proactive steps to educate and protect their children. Organizations such as the Lucy Faithfull Foundation offer support and guidance for young people who may be struggling with their own sexual thoughts and behaviors.
This investigation serves as a wake-up call for society, highlighting the urgent need to address the harmful impact of pornography on young people and to provide the necessary support and intervention to prevent the escalation of these concerning behaviors.