PAEDOPHILES exploiting the coronavirus lockdown to target children online have led to more than 30 arrests across Berkshire and the surrounding counties.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Darnell, of the Thames Valley Police Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, said the force had put extra resources into stopping offenders following a surge in reports as young people spend more time at home and online.

During March, reports of online child sexual abuse in the Thames Valley were 146 per cent higher than the same time last year.

DCI Darnell said there had been a continued increase in reports, which were up by 91 per cent for the first five months of 2020 compared with the same period last year.

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He said: “Sadly, we believe that criminals have looked to exploit the fact that more children have been at home and online, and as such there has been a large increase in the number of reports we’ve received about online child sexual abuse.

He said May had seen a 'significant increase' in enforcement, with Thames Valley Police carrying out 37 warrants at addresses across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, officers arresting 32 people, seizing a total of 419 devices and safeguarding 24 children.

Specialist officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit arrested another four people suspected of making arrangements to meet children for sex.

He said: “Thames Valley Police routinely carries out warrants such as these and they are business as usual for us. However, we want to ensure that a clear message is being sent to those that look to exploit children.

“This is not acceptable – it is a very serious crime and you will get caught.

"These warrants show that we are constantly monitoring the intelligence we receive about these offences, and that we will come to your home, investigate, seize your devices and arrest you if necessary.

“I am really pleased that the activity we have carried out has resulted in so many children being safeguarded and that we have made a large number of arrests."

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He added: “This activity is not a one-off. We will continue to carry out warrants like this as we seek to bring to justice those who commit this type of offence.”

Online sexual abuse is any type of sexual abuse that happens on the internet, whether through social media, online gaming or using mobile phones.

In some cases this involves children being groomed or exploited by an adult, who will often pretend to be someone their age and encourage them to share explicit images of themselves.

He advised parents to 'trust their gut instinct' when dealing with concerns their child was in danger, and to look out for them being secretive, sad and withdrawn, as well as seeming unable to switch off from electronic devices.

The DCI also said it was important for offenders to know there are places for them to seek help to stop what they are doing.

Confidential help is available via Stop It Now on 0808 1000 900.

For anyone concerned for the safety of a child, call Thames Valley Police on 101, the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111