Overview
- Police recorded 36,829 offences involving indecent or prohibited child images between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025, a 9% rise based on responses from 42 of 45 forces.
- Where platforms were identified in 10,811 cases, 43% were on Snapchat and nearly a quarter on Meta services, with charities warning end-to-end encryption obscures the full scale.
- NSPCC is calling for mandatory, default on‑device nude‑image blocking for children’s phones, with adults able to opt out, and for government action if firms do not comply.
- Ofcom and the ICO have written to major platforms seeking explanations on age checks and grooming protections, setting a deadline at the end of April.
- The government cites a VAWG strategy aiming to make it impossible for children to take, share or view nude images and is advancing a ban on ‘nudification’ apps, while Snapchat says the report overlooks its enforcement and support for police investigations.