The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has seen a surge in reports to its Report Remove service which it runs in partnership with the NSPCC’s Childline service.

The tool allows anyone under 18 in the UK to anonymously report sexual images and videos of themselves on the internet.

The charity said that its data shows 1,142 reports were submitted to Report Remove and assessed by analysts in 2024, a 44 per cent increase on the year before.

Of these, the IWF actioned 642 reports in 2024 which contained criminal child sexual abuse content. This is an increase of around 26 per cent compared to the previous year.

Actioned reports of sexual imagery were highest among 14- to 15-year-olds, which accounted for 48 per cent of reports on Report Remove.

However, the IWF said it is also seeing imagery from a growing number of 11- to 13-year-olds, with a 431 per cent increase in reports compared with 2023.

Children aged between 16 and 17 are the second largest group with 262 reports.

Reports actioned by the IWF are confirmed as containing images or videos of child sexual abuse according to UK law.

The IWF said that children can report both webpages that contain their sexual image or the individual images and videos themselves via the Report Remove service.

IWF analysts can then take steps to block and take down any criminal webpages and imagery while children using this tool can also talk to a Childline counsellor if they want any extra support.

“These concerning figures show that offenders continue to ruthlessly target our children online, knowing that they are vulnerable to coercion, exploitation and abuse,” said IWF interim chief executive Derek Ray-Hill. “It is vital that children know that they are not at fault and are the victims of aggressive manipulators.

“With the support of the IWF and Childline, Report Remove can give children a sense of control as they take steps to have their imagery removed online.”

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