Police forces across England and Wales are failing to arrest individuals who view indecent images of children because they are overwhelmed by surging demand, a new report has said.
The findings emerged in a damning new report from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.
The inspectorate found that referrals for online child sexual abuse increased by 66 per cent between 2023 and 2024, leaving officers unable to cope with their workload.
Investigators warned that the current police response to this category of offending is falling below acceptable standards, with children being left at risk as a consequence of stretched resources.
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The report revealed that some forces are opting to invite suspects for voluntary interviews rather than formally arresting them, primarily because this approach involves less administrative burden.
However, inspectors warned this practice poses significant risks to vulnerable children.
When suspects attend voluntarily and are subsequently released without charge, police cannot impose bail conditions designed to protect potential victims.
"During our inspections, we found that this approach was often used to manage workloads," the report stated.
Police are 'too busy to arrest paedophiles', new report says | CITY OF LONDON POLICE"Decisions to use voluntary attendance didn't always consider the risk that may be posed to victims."
The inspectorate recommended that all suspects in online child sexual abuse cases should be arrested rather than questioned voluntarily.
The scale of the resource crisis facing specialist units is stark, with some investigators juggling as many as 54 active cases simultaneously.
Forensic analysis of mobile phones and other electronic devices can take up to two years in certain force areas, prolonging investigations and extending the period during which children remain vulnerable.
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The report also highlighted inadequate equipment, noting that officers frequently lack appropriate technology to examine suspects' devices when conducting home visits.
Adding to these difficulties, there is currently no nationally accredited training programme for detectives working on online child sexual abuse investigations, resulting in inconsistent standards across different constabularies.
Michelle Skeer, His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, described online child sexual abuse as "one of the most serious and fastest-growing crimes facing our society today".
She said: "Demand is rising at a rate that forces cannot keep pace with using current resources.
"Children are waiting too long to be safeguarded, investigators are carrying unsustainable caseloads, and too many forces lack the technology and training they need to do this work effectively."
The chief inspector emphasised that police cannot tackle this crisis in isolation, calling on the Home Office, National Police Chiefs' Council and College of Policing to act urgently on the inspectorate's recommendations.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The sexual abuse of children online is one of the most disturbing crimes of our time and has a devastating long-term impact on victims.
“Charges and prosecutions for child sexual abuse are now at their highest ever levels and we will continue to support policing to bring more offenders to justice.
“We will not hesitate to go further to protect our children online. The government will soon strengthen the law in the Crime and Policing Bill with new offences that target tech-assisted child sexual abuse and improve the management of offenders.”