Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to NSPCC research showing police forces are struggling to cope with the number of child abuse images they confiscate, said:  

“This new research from the NSPCC is extremely worrying. The Labour Party has warned for some time that crime is changing, that these awful online child abuse cases are rapidly increasing, and that the Home Office, NCA and police forces are failing to cope. These figures show that the system is failing to investigate this very serious crime swiftly enough - and is putting more children at risk as a result.

"Today’s findings come soon after reports of delays in the NCA passing on intelligence on suspected paedophiles and evidence that the Agency is aware of thousands of people suspected of viewing abusive images, but is not actively investigating these.

"Child protection must be made a far greater priority at national and local level, and online crime needs to be taken much more seriously. Other crimes get far more attention and resources than these crimes where children may be at risk.

“Theresa May needs to get a grip on this urgently. The Government keeps claiming crime is falling and far fewer police are needed. The truth is that crime is changing and the police and Home Office need to operate very differently to keep children safe.”