"His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Michelle Skeer, stated forces are 'falling short of what the public expects.' She emphasized that while officers show tremendous dedication, the rising demand is outpacing current resources, leading to children waiting too long to be safeguarded."
"Inspectors highlighted that investigators are under pressure, managing up to 54 active cases at once, and that digital forensic examinations can take up to two years in some forces, severely hampering timely investigations."
"The inspectorate concluded that individual forces cannot resolve the problems alone, recommending that the College of Policing create a national investigators' course for online child sexual abuse and implement a bespoke national digital training course."
A report reveals police forces are inadequately investigating online child sexual abuse, with a 66% increase in referrals from 2023 to 2024. The rise in cases coincides with a 48% increase in registered sex offenders over the past decade. Investigators face unsustainable caseloads, with some managing up to 54 active cases. Digital forensic examinations can take up to two years, and there is a lack of accredited training for officers. The report calls for urgent action from the Home Office and other agencies to address these issues.
Read at www.independent.co.uk
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