THE number of cyber-related sex crimes against children in Wiltshire has leapt dramatically over the last year according to the NSPCC.

Wiltshire Police marked a four-fold increase in incidents in 2016/17, with 44 sex crimes against children online. There were just 10 during the previous year. For the last two years, police have been required to mark a ‘cyber flag’ against any recorded crime involving the internet.

Ingrid Anson, service manager at the NSPCC’s Swindon Service Centre, says knowledge of online dangers is a significant factor in the increase: “Parents are more aware, there is a lot more information around.”

She says communication from parents is key to safeguarding children: “One of the most important things in families is talking. Talk to your child about what is online, what they can do stay safe.

"Check before you download a new app, make sure you know what it does.”

Local figures are representative of the national picture, where a 44 per cent rise has been reported across the 39 police forces of England and Wales.

Overall, the internet was used to commit 15 child sexual offences a day between April 2016 and March 2017, with the internet playing a part in serious offences including rape, sexual assault and grooming.

Det Sup Craig Holden said part of the change is due to improved reporting methods.

“We at the police are flagging where the internet or online devices are being used to conduct offences," he said.

"In the previous year we had not many flags created, probably because of the awareness of our staff.

“There is a very steady, small increase in child sexual offences.”

Highlighting modern difficulties of parents in combatting online grooming, he said: “If you think back 20-25 years, we used to roll out ‘Stranger Danger’ work. But now what is more difficult with children is, as a parent, trying to have a difficult conversation with a child about how to stay safe.

"With the way things are perpetrated over the internet you have to explain that some minor things will happen and then be used against you.”

The NSPCC is calling for the government to appoint an independent regulator to hold social media companies to account where they fail to protect children.

“These figures confirm our fears that offenders are exploiting the internet to target children for their own dark deeds,” said Peter Wanless, NSPCC chief executive.

“We cannot idly sit by knowing that more and more innocent young people are being harmed online. Today’s worrying data leaves the next government with no choice but to urgently address this issue. We are calling on them to force internet companies and social media sites to adhere to rules that keep their young users safe.”

The charity is also urging all police forces to make sure officers understand how the internet is used to target children, how to investigate cyber-related sex crimes and what needs to be one to safeguard victims.

Some schools in Swindon are hosting workshops on safe use of the internet, for both parents and children. The NSPCC have also partnered with O2 to provide a free helpline, where parents can report online bullying or get help with how to set up online parental safety controls.