Child abuse hotline reports rise in calls from men viewing illegal content

Growing use of adult pornography in lockdown may lead to more people seeking out images of under-18s, experts say

Child abuse experts have reported a rise in the number of men contacting a specialist helpline for people who are watching or considering watching online child sexual abuse material.

The Stop It Now! helpline had its busiest year in 2020, handling more than 12,500 calls, emails and live chats - up from 10,700 in 2019. More than 3,500 individuals asked for help because they were worried about their own or someone else's online sexual behaviour towards children.