Campaign to fight online child abuse by deterring potential offenders launched

Police have launched a campaign to tackle the rising number of online sexual offences against children that aims to deter potential offenders.

The PSNI has partnered with child protection charity Lucy Faithfull Foundation that provides anonymous support for impacted children and people concerned about their own online behaviour.

The campaign focuses on discouraging people from viewing sexual images of under-18s and sexual conversations with children under 16, both of which are illegal.

Online sexual offences against children are increasing in Northern Ireland, with 2,187 sexual offences against children recorded in 2024, 187 of which relate to grooming and sexual communication with a child.

Some 799 offences relating to taking, possessing, sharing or publishing indecent images of children were reported in 2024.

In 2024, the PSNI conducted 228 searches and made 76 arrests from intelligence relating to online child sexual abuse crimes.

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, which runs the Stop It Now helpline and website, works to prevent people from offending online in the first place and to get them to stop if they have already started.

It directs those engaged in this behaviour to “self-help resources” and a confidential helpline to give them help to address their online behaviour and stop engaging with harmful and illegal images.

In 2025, 83 people in Northern Ireland contacted the Lucy Faithfull Foundation and their website was accessed by 6,544 people from Northern Ireland seeking further information for either themselves or someone else.

Detective Chief Inspector Claire McDonald said the evolution of technology has led to “an increase in the number of people viewing and sharing indecent images of children, and seeking to use the internet to engage with children for sexual purposes”.

Ms McDonald said: “We will never stop searching online for child predators. My team work incredibly hard and are dedicated to identifying and bringing people before the courts who think their offending can go undetected.

“We are operating covertly in all digital spaces including the dark web to track and target offenders.

“There is no place to hide. If you are perpetrating online child abuse, it is only a matter of time before we will be knocking on your door.

“That being said, we also recognise the need to educate and stop individuals from continuing to offend, or prevent individuals from offending in the first place.

“Our partnership with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation plays a key role in this, providing an online space or confidential helpline in which to signpost individuals who are about to offend, to recognise the consequences of their actions and to seek support.”

Tom Squire, head of clinical engagement at Lucy Faithfull Foundation, said thousands of people who are “concerned about their online behaviour or sexual thoughts towards children” contact them every year.

“They come from all walks of life,” he said.

“Through our programmes, online self-help modules and non-judgmental, action-oriented conversations with our expert helpline advisers, they can find a pathway out of this behaviour and prevent harm from taking place.

“We call on anyone with concerns about child sexual abuse, including their own online habits, to contact Stop It Now anonymously and get support to change their behaviour and protect children.

“This behaviour is illegal and causes great harm to children. There are grave consequences including arrest, losing your job and family. But there is anonymous help to stop and there is a pathway out of this behaviour.”