Calls from Shropshire to child abuse prevention helpline are lowest in years
The number of Shropshire people contacting a child sexual abuse prevention helpline is the lowest in years, new figures show.
A survey released by the national child protection charity The Lucy Faithfull Foundation reveals a 24 per cent drop in Shropshire people contacting the helpline over the last three years.
A breakdown of the figures shows that in 2018, 108 people from Shropshire contacted the helpline through its website and 12 people made contact over the phone.
This compares to 173 people online and 21 people over the phone in 2017, and 139 people online and 18 over the phone in 2016.
The figures show Shropshire has bucked a regional trend of a 29 per cent increase in people from the West Midlands contacting the charity over the last three years, with Herefordshire and Worcestershire seeing the biggest increase of 65 per cent and 63 per cent respectively.
The charity's anonymous helpline, Stop It Now!, deals with all aspects of child sexual abuse prevention, including direct contact abuse, child grooming and harmful behaviour of a child or young person.
Find out more:
Call the Stop It Now! helpline on 0808 1000 900
Since 2015, the charity has run a nationwide campaign to deter people from looking at sexual images of children online and urging offenders to seek help to stop.
The figures have been released as the charity, based in Bromsgrove, has received a £600,000 funding boost from the Government, allowing it to double its workforce.
Donald Findlater, director of the Stop It Now! helpline, said: "The lower figures relating to Shropshire are likely a reflection of less awareness of the help available, rather than significant differences in offending behaviour.
Not a victimless crime
"People viewing sexual images of children online need to know this is not a victimless crime – children are harmed when these images are first made and afterwards when they are viewed or shared again.
"There are serious consequences for anyone arrested for such behaviour, possibly including imprisonment, losing their job, friendships and relationships, losing contact with their own children as well as ending up on the sex offenders register.
"Confidential help is available to stop viewing these images and to stay stopped. Over these last three years thousands of people, mostly men, have come to us for help to get their lives back on track.
"This additional funding will ensure thousands more get through to stop their illegal behaviour and stay stopped."
Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, said: "Child sexual abuse is a truly sickening crime and I'm committed to doing everything in my power to eradicate it from society.
"It's vital we take action on a number of fronts. That's why we have given police and prosecutors the tools they need to bring offenders to justice, educate young people on how they can protect themselves and legislate to ensure tech giants are fulfilling their responsibilities to protect our children."
The helpline makes callers agree actions they can take to manage their behaviour and protect children as well as explore other services and agencies available. Calls remain confidential and anonymous, unless identifying details are known and a child is deemed to be at risk of harm.
Independent evaluation shows that, as a result of the advice, people take steps to control their behaviour, including stopping all internet or pornography use, installing controls and filters on devices and informing partners or family members.
The National Crime Agency estimates that around 80,000 people in the UK are regularly viewing images of child sexual abuse online.
