THE number of calls to a helpline for paedophiles who want help to stop viewing sexual images of children has soared by 28 per cent in Lancashire, a charity has confirmed.

Figures published by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation show that almost 1,500 people from across the county have contacted its Stop It Now! helpline in the past 12 months.

Donald Findlater, director of the Stop It Now! helpline, said: “Tens of thousands of men in the UK are viewing and sharing sexual images of under 18s – and many will be in Lancashire. These men are our friends, family, neighbours and colleagues.

“Many of these men started viewing this illegal material as part of their adult pornography habit, somehow not noticing or perhaps caring that these were images of children being abused.

“Some don’t know the law and need it spelling out. A few are struggling with a long-standing sexual interest in children and think that looking at ‘only pictures’ is a way of containing that interest.

“The Stop It Now! helpline has worked with thousands of men from Lancashire and the people around them over recent years – we help everyone be part of the solution to this problem.”

The helpline, which launched in 2002, said the spike in numbers was down to 'successful campaigning efforts' with police forces in the North West.

A new online video campaign was launched recently, which aims to play upon the building anxiety and fear of being exposed as a viewer of sexual images of minors.

Detective chief superintendent Emily Higham, from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: “It’s our continued priority and duty to protect children from sexual exploitation and from those who seek to do them harm, including those who access and share indecent images of children online.

"Together with our partners we are using all available resources to arrest more offenders, safeguard more children and where possible, prevent offending in the first place.

“Anyone who is concerned about the online habits of someone they know should seek help from Stop It Now.

“Their confidential child sexual abuse prevention helpline gives anonymous, effective support for those worried about their own or someone else’s online sexual behaviour.”

Nationally over 94,000 people contacted Stop It Now! in 2019 – either through calling the helpline or visiting the charity’s website – a significant increase from just 43,000 in 2018.

Catherine Smith, chief executive of rape and sexual assault support centre Trust House Lancashire, said: “As an organisation that supports vulnerable individuals, we understand how difficult it is to ask for help.

“It’s encouraging that victims and survivors themselves are increasingly reporting the crimes against them and seeking support in their recovery from specialist services like Trust House.

“The figures are of course a concern; however it is positive that more individuals are actively recognising the risk they face to children and seeking help to manage that from services like the Lucy Faithfull Foundation.

“We would hope that this keeps more children in Lancashire safe in the future.”

David’s story – a former internet offender who called the helpline

David was in his early 30s and was travelling a lot due to his job. He was using adult chat sites and was sent indecent images of children by someone that he was speaking to online. He was arrested and given the number of the Stop It Now! helpline by an investigating officer. He phoned the next evening and called every day for two weeks. After being on bail for a year and a half, he served a prison sentence.

After his release, he said: “I’ve lost friends and my life has changed in so many ways. My electronics are monitored and I’m limited in what jobs I can do. But I’m relatively lucky that my family stuck by me and I’ve had support that means I won’t offend in future.

“The Stop It Now! helpline was invaluable when I was in a dark place. Working with them through their helpline, website and also face-to-face helped me understand the consequences of what I’d done, but also helped me work out what I needed to change to make sure I don’t reoffend. I’d urge anyone worried about what they’re doing to get help before it’s too late.”