Across the South West more than 23,000 people sought support in 2025 as agencies in Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly joined forces this year with national charity to tackle online child sexual abuse
Throughout February 2026, we campaigned across the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly safeguarding partnerships alongside the UK‑wide child protection charity, the Lucy Faithfull Foundation (LFF), to deter online child sexual abuse.
The campaign signposted people to anonymous support available through the Stop It Now helpline and self‑help services, aimed at anyone concerned about their own or someone else’s online sexual behaviour towards children.
Across the South West, we saw a 20% increase in people seeking help from Stop It Now in 2025 compared with 2024 due to concerns about their own or another person’s online sexual behaviour towards children. This included 1,217 individuals in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Through this campaign, we had pledged to work together to raise awareness of the scale and nature of online child sexual abuse—and how it can be prevented.
The campaign included:
- three films from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation designed to deter people from viewing sexual images of children online or engaging in sexual conversations with children
- webinars and guidance for professionals, with a particular focus on healthcare settings
- increased investment in digital advertising across the South West
- communications materials such as posters, stickers, and waiting room screens for use in healthcare environments
Viewing sexual images of children under 18, or engaging in sexual conversations with children under 16, is illegal, causes immense harm to children, and carries serious consequences including potential arrest, imprisonment, and loss of employment. Tom Squire, Head of Clinical Engagement at the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, said:
“As a national charity, we’re partnering with agencies like the police and NHS because every part of society has a role to play in the prevention of child sexual abuse. We’re highlighting a hidden problem that goes on behind closed doors – the harm that people cause online, that maybe no one else in their life knows about.
People who commit these offences come from all walks of life, and they can get to this dark place for many different reasons. This behaviour is illegal, it causes devastating harm to victims and has grave consequences for you if you are caught – but there is confidential support to find a pathway out and change your behaviour. Contact the Stop It Now helpline to speak confidentially to expert advisors at 0808 1000 900 or www.stopitnow.org.uk. There’s no judgement, and no tracking, just anonymous support to change harmful behaviour online.”
Dr Rosie Luce, Assistant Director of Nursing (Safeguarding) at South West NHS England and NHS Improvement, reflected on the campaign’s importance:
“The NHS across England is committed to preventing child sexual abuse, as well as to responding to the harm it causes, so we fully support this important campaign.
“By working with charities like the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, we can help make sure people know what support is available and how to access it. We want anyone engaging in harmful behaviour to recognise it for what it is, before they hurt themselves or someone else.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Sheon Sturland, who leads Devon & Cornwall Police’s safeguarding work, added:
“Devon & Cornwall Police is pleased to support the Stop It Now campaign, which by its close focus on a real and harmful issue and careful targeting of its messages is clearly reaching the right people. In 2024 more than 8,000 people in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly sought help from Stop It Now, and 9,173 in 2025.”
“It’s important that everyone understands that viewing or downloading sexual images of children or sharing them is illegal and that it causes real harm to children. Our priority is to prevent that harm, and officers and staff in our Neighbourhood Policing teams, Public Protection Unit and Paedophile Online Investigation Team work tirelessly towards this end.
“AI generated sexual images of children have been in the news recently, and if you think they are not illegal and “don’t count”, you are mistaken. They’re illegal child sexual abuse. If you are viewing or making these or any other images, you need to reach out for help to stop.
“The consequences are very serious for people who are caught. This includes imprisonment, the sex offenders register, family breakdown, and loss of employment. Stop It Now provides confidential help to stop viewing these harmful materials and therefore a pathway out of this behaviour. It is better for everyone – victims, potential offenders, their families, and the police and safeguarding partner agencies – if it is stopped as soon as possible.
“Between April and October last year we saw eleven men from Devon and Cornwall aged between 30 and 80 appear in court for the sexual abuse of children, both physical and online. This resulted in prison sentences ranging from 27 months to 27 years, a total of over 118 years. These lengthy sentences were in addition to other penalties and prevention orders given to other offenders.
“We urge anyone concerned about their own or someone else’s sexual behaviour towards children to contact Stop It Now.”
You can find out more at www.stopitnow.org.uk