CHILD sex abuse reports rocketed in lockdown with some crimes seeing increases of more than 35 per cent. 

Since opening six months ago, Police Scotland's dedicated online child sexual abuse crimes unit has arrested 214 people, which they say protected 51 children and safeguarded 286. 

At least one boy as young as 14 was arrested in connection with vile crimes against children.

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In figures published today, the national force reported that 1,522 child sexual abuse crimes were recorded between April and December 2020, a 13.4 per cent increase in the same period in 2019 and 33.9 per cent higher than the five-year average. 

The figures also revealed that, between April and September 2020, reports of children being made to look at a sexual image or be present during a sexual act had increased by 35 per cent on the same period the previous year. 

Reports of indecent communication were up 30 per cent and the sharing of indecent images was up 23.1 per cent. 

Assistant Chief Constable Judi Heaton said the lockdown had forced young people to spend more time online, which was linked to being more vulnerable to be prey to online perverts. 

She added: "There are risks associated with our increased use of apps and platforms. This includes people sharing intimate images of themselves online. As a result, in the last quarter, we have seen a slight increase in reports of child victims of sextortion.

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“One of the reasons we are seeing a rise in the crime reports is because we are being proactive and tough on this criminality. Often when we uncover a case it will involve numerous offences and hence more crimes are recorded.

“This rise also shows the shift to crimes committed in the online and digital world rather than in the physical world – albeit we never forget that there is always a child involved.  

“As well as tackling predators directly through our taskforce, it is vital that we help prevent online abuse and reduce the opportunities for predators to cause harm."