Press Releases

Published date: 26 Apr 2024

Policing Authority Report is another alarm bell on the need for significant investment to address rise of child sexual abuse material say Children’s Rights Alliance

Policing Authority Report is another alarm bell on the need for significant investment to address rise of child sexual abuse material say Children’s Rights Alliance

The Policing Authority yesterday published its latest ‘Oversight of Policing Response to Child Sexual Abuse’, which stated that in the first three months of 2024, more than 25 Irish children have been identified as victims of online child abuse material. Some of these children are as young as five years old.

The report reveals significant concern surrounding current delays in interviewing children in relation to child sexual abuse. These delays are largely caused by lack of resources, including insufficient numbers of Specialist Victim Interviewers.

Speaking in response to the report, Noeline Blackwell, Online Safety Coordinator at the Children’s Rights Alliance said:

“Revelations yesterday from the Policing Authority and the Garda Commissioner about the extent of child sexual abuse online are deeply disturbing but not surprising to many of us working on children’s safety. It is clear from the Policing Authority’s review, and the information given by An Garda Siochána yesterday that without significant investment, the Gardaí tasked with this work do not have the resources and capacity to meet the scale of the issue. This is why we see significant delays in dealing with current cases, in a climate where the Gardaí are registering a 300% increase in the number of cases being reported.”

“We are talking about some of the worst offences being committed against children. Sophisticated   online predators are ruthlessly exploiting children for criminal gain. In the online world, that threat can begin when a child is on their phone in their bedroom or in a chat room of a video game. The Policing Authority Review and the contributions from Commissioner Drew Harris and his senior staff demonstrate how the harm of online child sexual abuse and exploitation is becoming increasingly common. Addressing these extremely serious crimes must become a core part of training and resources.  Significant investment must be directed towards specialist units to ensure they have the right resources, the authority and the support to respond to these crimes and swiftly remove children from harm and bring perpetrators to justice.”

 

ENDS

For media queries contact:

Gillian Hogan: [email protected] /083 063 4290

Notes to Editors:

• Spokespeople from the Children’s Rights Alliance are available for media interviews.

• Oversight of Policing Response to Child Sexual Abuse 2023 is available here

About the Children’s Rights Alliance
Founded in 1995, the Children’s Rights Alliance unites 150 members working together to make Ireland one of the best places in the world to be a child. Further information is available at: www.childrensrights.ie or on Twitter, @ChildRightsIRL