AN online petition calling for adults to stop sending sexual messages to children has been backed by Durham’s Police and Crime Commissioner.

Ron Hogg is supporting the Flaw in The Law campaign, which aims to make it a criminal offence for an adult to intentionally send a sexual message to a person under 16.

The campaign was launched by the NSPCC after ChildLine revealed a 168 per cent increase in the number of children counselled about sexual abuse.

It is not currently an offence for an adult to send a child a text, email or instant message that contains indecent images.

Mr Hogg said: "The protection of children in our communities is paramount and it is disappointing that, according to ChildLine, the number of children counselled about online sexual abuse more than doubled last year.

"The campaign should also raise awareness and help some adults to think more carefully about the types of images children may have access to."

Claire Lilley, NSPCC head of child safety online, said: "No adult should be deliberately sending sexual messages to children, but incredibly it is not always illegal.

"Existing laws are a hotch-potch and sex offenders can and do exploit the loopholes."