More than 300 online offences in Milton Keynes and across Thames Valley are sex crimes against a child

The NSPCC has warned that tech companies are enabling the crimes by failing to design their sites with children's safety in mind.

A freedom of information request by the charity revealed that 304 grooming and online offences involving a victim under-18 were recorded by Thames Valley Police in 2019-20.

However, this was an 18% decrease from the previous year, but still meant 8% of all sex crimes recorded against children by the force were online.

In 2018-19, 10% of child sex crimes in Thames Valley had an online element.

The recorded crime figures include sexual assault and activity, gross indecency with, and grooming of children, as well as crimes of abuse of children through prostitution and pornography.

Rape of children aged under 16 is also included.

The number of online sex crimes against children across England and Wales topped 10,000 in 2019-20 - the 10,058 recorded was a 17% rise on the previous year.

The Home Office said around 700 people were being arrested across the country each month.

The Government says its Online Harms White Paper sets out plans for world-leading legislation to keep children safe online.

Andy Burrows, head of child safety online policy at the NSPCC, said: “Offenders are using the web to commit child sex offences in ever-growing numbers and young people are at even greater risk of grooming and abuse due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

“But these crimes have been enabled by tech companies that continue to fail to design their sites with children’s safety in mind.

“The Government have a pivotal opportunity to change this in the coming weeks in their response to the Online Harms White Paper.