Cops launched more than six investigations every DAY into under-age sexting last year
Between April 2015 and 2016, 2,287 crimes of possessing, making or distributing indecent images by children were recorded
COPS launched more than six investigations every day into under-age sexting in the last year alone, The Sun on Sunday can reveal.
Our shock findings come after Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt called this week on mobile phone firms and social media giants to do more to help stop sexting among young people.
Between April 2015 and 2016, 2,287 crimes of possessing, making or distributing indecent images by children were recorded by 26 police forces.
Shockingly there were 510 suspects aged under 13 including one who was just six years old.
Five forces reported suspects under ten-years-old.
But just six per cent of investigations resulted in either a charge or a formal caution.
And campaigners fear the real figure could be much higher, as 15 forces did not respond to The Sun on Sunday’s Freedom of Information request, citing exemptions.
Just 14 forces of the 26 which answered had data for comparative years - and of these nine recorded at least double the amount of crimes of possessing, making or distributing indecent images of children involving suspects under 18 during 2015/16 compared to 2014/15.
Barnardo’s chief executive Javed Khan described the “epidemic” of young children sexting as “deeply concerning”.
He added: “Police should focus on serious cases of under-age sexting involving exploitation, grooming and bullying and social media companies and developers of apps must do more to support the prevention of this abuse.
“Ultimately, compulsory age appropriate sex and healthy relationships lessons are key to making children and young people aware of the dangers of sending explicit images.”