'The helpline was invaluable when I was in a dark place' – Calls to child sex abuse charity double in a year

The latest data shows how national charity Stop It Now! has dealt with almost 100,000 people across the country during 2019 – a staggering increase from 43,000 the year before.

The helpline, which is run by a team of experienced trained advisers, helps potential offenders to learn the triggers for their behaviour and guide them towards support and treatment to address their urges.

In the Durham area 690 people contacted the charity for help to stop them viewing child abuse images, a rise of 157 percent from 2018 when 268 sought help.

• Deviant used childlike doll for 'sexual gratification'

The figures for North Yorkshire show 1,125 people accessed the information, up from 487 the previous year, an increase of 131 percent.

A total of 1,953 people in Tyne and Wear contacted the charity, a rise of 199 percent from the previous year's 653.

A former internet offender, who called the helpline after his arrest and subsequent prison sentence, praised the work of the charity in helping him address his illicit sexual desires.

After his release, he said: “I’ve lost friends and my life has changed in so many ways. My electronics are monitored and I’m limited in what jobs I can do. But I’m relatively lucky that my family stuck by me and I’ve had support that means I won’t offend in future.

“The helpline was invaluable when I was in a dark place. Working with them through their helpline, website and also face-to-face helped me understand the consequences of what I’d done, but also helped me work out what I needed to change to make sure I don’t reoffend.”

The charity is promoting two new online films based on the concept of ‘The Fear’ to raise awareness of the issue of online offending, and encourage people who view sexual abuse images of under 18s online, or are at risk of doing so, to seek help.

A Stop It Now! poster

Donald Findlater, Director of the Stop It Now! helpline, said: “Many of these men started viewing this illegal material as part of their adult pornography habit, somehow not noticing or perhaps caring that these were images of children being abused. Some don’t know the law and need it spelling out. A few are struggling with a long-standing sexual interest in children and think that looking at 'only pictures’ is a way of containing that interest.

“Whoever they are, they need to know this behaviour is illegal; that children are harmed by it; that serious consequences await those involved in it; but that our helpline and website give anonymous, and confidential support and advice to stop and stay stopped. Friends, family and colleagues need to know this too – so they notice and do something."

• Former soldier found with child-like sex doll jailed for sex crimes

And Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the National Police Chief's Council lead on child protection, said: “Accessing these images is not a victimless crime and viewing them creates more demand for these appalling offences. We are arresting more offenders than ever before – at least 500 people a month – and our tools for investigating and tracking down those responsible are the best they have ever been."

For help visit stopitnow.org.uk or call 0808 1000 900.