The number of reported cyber-sex related crimes against children in the East of England has risen by 88 per cent in four years.

New figures published by the NSPCC today also revealed that an average of 22 crimes a day were taking place across the UK in the past year alone.

The charity has called for the next Prime Minister to prioritise online safety by delivering statutory regulation to protect children from the risks of abuse.

Peter Wanless, NSPCC CEO, said: “Behind each offence is a child suffering at the hands of sex offenders and, worryingly, we know these figures are the tip of the iceberg.

“Far too many children are drowning in a sea of online threats so it’s now time for the next Prime Minister, whoever he may be, to cast out the life jacket.

“He must hold his nerve and introduce an independent regulator to protect children from the risks of abuse and harmful content.”

A total of 648 child sexual offences with an online element were logged by police forces in the East of England last year, following a Freedom of Information request made by NSPCC.

In total, 40 out of 44 forces across the UK provided the NSPCC with data on cyber-related sex crimes against under 18s.

Offences included online grooming, sexual communication with a child, and rape.

The NSPCC has led the charge on this for the past two years with its Wild West Web campaign.

A statement released by the charity said: “The NSPCC fears that the figures may not reveal the true extent of the problem due to potential under-recording of the role of online in these crimes and wide logging variation across forces.

“It also comes on top of other online harms against children recorded by police such as indecent image offences.

“The worrying figures have been revealed ahead of the NSPCC’s flagship annual conference How Safe Are Our Children? which begins today in London.”

Police forces across England, Wales and Northern Ireland recorded 8,224 child sexual offences with an online element in 2018/19.

For offences where the age was recorded, 13 was the most common age of the victim but there were offences even committed against babies yet to reach their first birthday.

A 13-year-old girl, recalled her experience of cyber-sex abuse, saying: “I met a guy on Instagram and we developed an online relationship. He convinced me to send pictures of myself which was sexual.

“Now he has threatened he would share those pictures to my friends unless I send him more.

“I've blocked him but he keeps contacting me over the phone. I found out that he is actually an adult. I don't know what to do and I'm too scared to tell my mum in case I get in trouble.”

The shocking statistics comes just days before the Government closes its consultation on its Online Harms White Paper scheme.

This proposal aims to introduce an independent regulator which enforces a legal duty of care on tech companies that keep users safe on their platforms.