Child Abuse: Ceop 'Saves More Than Ever'

A record number of children have been protected from sexual abusers in the past year, according to new figures.

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop) says it safeguarded 790 children in 2012/13, an increase of 85% on the previous year.

Altogether Ceop , the UK's leading child protection agency, received 18,887 reports of abuse, a rise of 14%.

The organisation has warned that the growing availability of high-speed internet around the globe is likely to increase the threat to children.

Chief executive Peter Davies said: "This past year has seen ... a large increase in the number of children Ceop has been able to protect and safeguard from some of the worst offenders who seek to exploit our children.

"We have also provided thousands of intelligence packages to police forces and children's services, and have reached millions of children with our educational programme teaching them how to be safe.

"Despite our successes, we aren't complacent. We recognise that the world is constantly changing and offenders will continue to seek new ways to abuse children, which is why our work with partners around the globe is constantly evolving."

Ceop has outlined a number of key areas where it will focus its activity as it becomes part of the new National Crime Agency .

These include the proliferation of indecent images of children, the systematic sexual exploitation of multiple child victims on the internet and organised crime-related child abuse.

Mr Davies said: "Moving into the National Crime Agency as one of the four commands, the centre will play a pivotal role in sharing our expertise in protecting children.

"The agency will also be able to use specialist resources and knowledge to ensure that children are even safer in the future - not just here in the UK, but also abroad working with our international partners."