Child grooming offences 'increasingly' take place online
An increasing number of child grooming offences are taking place online, the NSPCC says.
Figures obtained by the children's charity have revealed that in the last five years alone, more than 150 people were reported to police forces across Wales for meeting a child following sexual grooming.
Grooming is defined as when somebody builds an emotional connection with a child to gain their trust for the purposes of sexual exploitation or abuse.
The NSPCC says grooming can happen "online or offline", with children often unaware that they have been groomed and that what has happened to them is abuse.
According to the figures, Dyfed Powys Police saw the highest number of recorded crimes with a total of 60, followed by South Wales Police with 35, Gwent Police with 34 and North Wales Police with 26.
Nearly 60% of those recorded by police between 2011 and 2015 also included an online element.
"We know that in a large number of cases, attacks are carried out on children by abusers who have first groomed them for this purpose", says Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC.
The charity is calling for the Welsh Government to "take the lead" in protecting children from harm online, such as grooming, sexting, cyber bullying and viewing child abuse images.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said the safeguarding of children and young people online is of "critical importance".
Watch James Crichton-Smith's report here.