Cyber-related sex crimes double in four years

At least one child per day is targeted by sex offenders as cyber-related sex crime in Wales doubles in four years, according to figures obtained by the charity NSPCC.

A Freedom of Information request to police forces in Wales found there were 576 cyber-related sex crimes recorded last year.

The crimes include online grooming, sexual communication with a child, and rape.

Last year, the highest number of crimes logged was by Gwent Police (229), followed by South Wales (214) and North Wales (133).

Dyfed-Powys Police were unable to respond to the FOI request so the true number of offences recorded in Wales will be higher still.

The NSPCC says the figures may not reveal the true extent of the problem due to potential under-recording of the role of online in these crimes and wide logging variation across forces.

The NSPCC has given examples of calls made to Childline. All names and details that may compromise anonymity have been protected.