Over 100 web sex crimes against children will be recorded every day as this vital legislation continues to be delayed.
We estimate that more than 13,0001 online child sex offences will have been recorded by police while the Online Safety Bill was delayed over the summer.
The legislation was due back in Parliament today (Tuesday November 1st) after it was delayed in July – but it's been pushed back even further following the appointment of the new Prime Minister.
We're warning that 100 plus online grooming and child abuse image crimes are likely to be recorded with every day families wait for legislation that protects their children.2
No date has been set for the Online Safety Bill to return and the junior minister responsible for delivering the legislation, Damian Collins, left his post on Thursday.
Children and families shouldn't be paying the price as the Bill sits in Parliamentary purgatory. This is despite the Culture Secretary promising to prioritise strengthened legislation.
Childline counselling sessions about online grooming have jumped 35% in the last six months (April to September) compared to previous year.3
In response to the uncertainty, almost 50,000 people signed a petition calling on the Prime Minister to make it his mission to pass the Online Safety Bill as soon as possible.4
The petition has been sent to Rishi Sunak alongside a letter from Louise* who was groomed and abused online from the age of 11.