North Wales Police recorded over 500 child sexual abuse image offences last year, almost ten a week
North Wales Police recorded 507 child sexual abuse image offences between April 2024 and March 2025, almost ten a week, according to data obtained by the NSPCC through Freedom of Information requests.
Across three Welsh forces that supplied data, Dyfed-Powys, Gwent, and North Wales, the total was 1,287 offences, a 3% increase on the 1,244 recorded in 2023/24.
South Wales Police did not supply complete data for 2024/25.
The Wales figures come as the NSPCC published FOI data showing 36,829 offences of indecent and prohibited images of children were recorded across 42 UK police forces in the same 12-month period, a 9% rise where forces could be compared year-on-year.
The charity says technology already exists that could block nude images from being created, shared, or viewed on children’s devices in real time, and is calling on tech companies to embed it now.
If companies fail to act, the NSPCC wants the UK Government to make such protections mandatory.
Of the 10,811 crimes where police recorded which platform was involved, 43% took place on Snapchat, a total of 4,615 offences.
Meta platforms combined accounted for 24% of offences where a platform was identified, with Instagram at 8%, WhatsApp at 7%, Facebook at 5%, and Messenger at 4%.
The NSPCC said end-to-end encryption on some platforms obscures the true scale of abuse, preventing detection and leading to under-reporting.
Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the NSPCC, said: “It is utterly indefensible that we are still seeing around 100 child sexual abuse image offences recorded every single day.”
“Children across the UK are being completely failed by tech companies that should be protecting them online. We cannot keep letting them off the hook when they can do more to prevent this from happening in the first place.”
“Technology already exists that could be deployed today to stop children from taking, sharing or receiving nude images. So, the real question is: what’s stopping them? If they continue to drag their feet, the UK Government must show their might by stepping in and compelling them to act.”
The NSPCC said it has delivered three recommendations to the UK Government on child online safety, of which the technology requirement is one.
Childline delivered 685 counselling sessions between April 2024 and March 2025 where the young person’s main concern was online sexual abuse or exploitation.
The NSPCC’s Online Safety Hub offers advice for parents and carers on a range of online safety issues.
Young people under 18 can use the Childline and Internet Watch Foundation’s Report Remove tool to report sexual images or videos shared online.
Check live fuel prices near you before you set off.
Spotted something? Got a story? Email news (@) deeside.com
NEW: Add Deeside.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Latest News
