News

SAFE Newsfeed

NCA launches initiative with banks to stop criminals who livestream child sexual abuse

Source: National Crime Agency (NCA) published on this website Friday 29 May 2026 by Jill Powell

Banks could provide critical intervention to stop UK offenders who pay for livestreamed child sexual abuse overseas, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has said.

For the first time, the NCA has worked with financial institutions, through their Public Private Partnerships unit, to show how banks can identify possible child sexual abuse (CSA) livestreaming payments and help law enforcement to stop the ongoing abuse of a child.

With the UK as one of the worst offenders for facilitating child abuse through livestreaming overseas, the NCA has been sharing real case examples and live investigations with private sector members to identify and understand patterns of behaviour and transaction history.

And today (Monday 18 May), at an event held in partnership with Natwest Group, the NCA’s Director General (Threats) Steve Rodhouse launched an alert for financial institutions to highlight this offending, encouraging them to build processes to detect livestreaming payments on their platforms.

The event encouraged banks to proactively detect potential child sexual abuse offenders through their financial patterns, investigate transactions they believe could be funding livestreamed child sexual abuse, and help law enforcement in monitoring Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPOs).

These often include restrictions on the number of bank accounts held, bans on international money transfers or travel abroad. This type of initiative demonstrates how everyone - including industry - has a role to play in protecting children, but also an example of how the NCA will explore every opportunity to disrupt offenders and bring them before the courts.

Livestreamed CSA offences have grown in recent years and involve criminals paying facilitators overseas, often in the Philippines, to abuse children in the country on a live feed to their device. In many cases, UK offenders direct the abuse through video.

Earlier this month, 37-year-old Jamie Beckett was sentenced to 23 years after being convicted of sexual abuse offences involving seven children. Beckett offered to send the facilitator in the Philippines cash for medical appointments, electricity and WiFi in exchange for images and videos of child abuse.

The payments ranged from as little as £6.20 to a maximum of £187 per request and in a two-year period, Beckett had exchanged almost 9,500 messages and 356 media files with the facilitator.

Under the new initiative, banks will be provided guidance and advice to identify transactions to stop offenders like Beckett earlier and safeguard children no matter where they are located.

Steve Rodhouse, Director General (Threats) at the National Crime Agency, said:

“We must not shy away from what this livestreaming of abuse means. It is a practice whereby, mainly, men in the UK pay to watch the rape and sexual abuse of children overseas. It is serious crime and it is right that the NCA works with partners across the financial industry to put an end to this horrendous criminality.

“Offenders in the UK who view livestreamed child sexual abuse from overseas may also pose a risk to children in the UK. These are rarely isolated offences – criminals will often also have downloaded large volumes of child sexual abuse material and may also directly abuse children themselves.

“Behind every instance of livestreamed child sexual abuse is an exchange of money and a financial footprint. Every time this happens, there is an opportunity for offences to be prevented and children to be protected.”

While the NCA has worked with the private sector on traditional economic crime threats, such as fraud and money laundering investigations, this is the first time we have worked with the finance industry on the threat of child sexual abuse.

Mr Rodhouse added: “The NCA works internationally and borders are not barriers for us pursuing those committing offences against children, wherever they are in the world.

“This is another way we can strengthen our approach to tackling child sexual abuse. We look forward to continuing our work with the finance industry and take opportunities to stop offenders earlier.”

Marcus Wogart, Director of non-financial risk, NatWest Group, said:

“Banks and payment service providers can play an important role in combating livestreamed child sexual abuse. This work demonstrates the power of public private partnerships. By bringing together financial insight from industry with law enforcement intelligence, we can strengthen detection, improve reporting and meaningfully disrupt those responsible.”

Immaterialism partners with IWF to boost fight to stop spread of child sexual abuse material online

Source: Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) published on this site Thursday 28 May 2026 by Jill Powell

Immaterialism will be among the first registrars to receive the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)’s dedicated Registrar Alerts.

The UK-based domain name registrar has joined the IWF to help stop the spread of child sexual abuse images and videos online. Use of the new Registrar Alerts will enable even faster action when harmful domains are identified.

Immaterialism provides domain registration services with a focus on fairness, transparency and user protection. Drawing on a blend of technology, openness and a commitment to building a better internet, Immaterialism works to offer customers a balanced and responsible service across the domains it manages.

Online safety sits at the heart of Immaterialism – teams actively monitor for suspicious or abusive domain registrations, taking swift action when services are being misused. This includes shutting down domains linked to scams or any attempt to facilitate the distribution of child sexual abuse online. The new partnership with the IWF reinforces this proactive work and reflects a joint belief that safeguarding children is a shared responsibility across the internet ecosystem.

As well as taking the Registrar Alerts, Immaterialism will integrate the IWF’s Keywords List and Top Level Domain Hopping List into its domain monitoring and enforcement processes. This will build upon its ability to detect and disrupt domains associated with child sexual abuse images or videos, helping prevent both accidental and deliberate access.

The Keywords List is among several unique services the IWF provides to Members, helping to detect and disrupt the spread of the criminal content online.

These tools will support rapid intervention when abusive activity appears, contributing to safer online environments across the domains Immaterialism manages.

Immaterialism said:

“Immaterialism is proud to be joining the Internet Watch Foundation, which reinforces our ongoing commitment to making the internet safer for everyone. As a domain registrar, partnering with the IWF strengthens our ability to rapidly identify and act against online child sexual abuse material. Harmful content has no place on the domains we manage and this collaboration reflects our belief that trust and safety must be embedded in the very foundations of the internet.”

Kerry Smith, Internet Watch Foundation CEO, said:

“We’re delighted to have Immaterialism come on board as a Member, and to be one of the first to receive our Registrar Alerts. The IWF is dedicated to stopping child sexual abuse online and our custom-built tools are designed to help identify, block and disrupt the spread of this criminal content.

“Last year our analysts found more child sexual abuse material than ever before. There has never been a more important time for organisations to work together and tackle this issue. Children’s safety online depends upon it.”

Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on the sentencing in the Fordingbridge rape case 24 May 2026

Source: Children’s Commissioners Office published on this website Tuesday 25 May 2026 by Jill Powell

In response to the news regarding the recent rape case, which was also published on this website Friday 22 May 2026.

Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said:

“The rape of two teenage girls in Fordingbridge is deeply disturbing and has shocked people across the country. My thoughts are first and foremost with the two girls and their families, who have shown extraordinary courage in speaking out about these heinous crimes.

“No child should experience the violence, humiliation and trauma described in this case. The impact of sexual violence does not end when an attack is over, it can impact every part of a young person’s life from their safety and confidence to their education, mental health and their future. It is essential that children who report abuse feel heard, protected and treated with dignity throughout the process.

“As Children’s Commissioner I welcome the urgent review being undertaken by the Attorney General. My office will be reaching out directly to the families involved to offer support. Children must know that if they speak up, adults and institutions will act decisively to keep them safe and deliver justice.”

Jail for man who sexually assaulted care home residents

Source: Kent Police published on this website Wednesday 27 May 2026 by Jill Powell

A care worker has been sentenced to a lengthy jail term after repeatedly sexually assaulting two vulnerable residents under his supervision.

In 2025, staff had grown increasingly concerned about David Jones’s behaviour towards certain residents. One colleague noted that Jones would visit one resident far more frequently than required, while neglecting to check on others in his care. On Wednesday 5 February 2025, Jones was working a night shift alongside two colleagues at a care facility in east Kent.

At around 3am, staff who were concerned for the welfare of the resident, followed Jones to the victim’s room. When they opened the door, they found him acting indecently towards the resident. He was immediately confronted and instructed to leave the room, and the victim was placed into the care of other staff members.

Staff reported the incident to Kent Police and officers attended Jones’s home address in South Road, Herne Bay, less than 24 hours later. They arrested him on suspicion of engaging in sexual activity with a person without consent. During the arrest, he was searched and a mobile phone was seized.

Investigators downloaded the content and uncovered multiple photos and videos of a sexual nature involving a second victim. Officers conducted a number of lines of enquiry and established that the images were taken during times Jones was on duty at the care home.

Evidence found on the phone concluded that the material strongly indicated the victim had been seriously sexually assaulted.

In addition to the images of the elderly victim, officers also discovered hundreds of indecent images of children.

The 53-year-old was later charged with multiple sexual offences including the possession of incident images of children. He pleaded guilty to all charges and on Friday 22 May 2026, at Canterbury Crown Court, he was sentenced to 19 years’ imprisonment.

Detective Sergeant Richard Allingham said:

“Instead of fulfilling his duty of care, Jones exploited vulnerable women for his own sexual gratification. His actions were deplorable and a profound breach of trust. I welcome the sentence handed down by the court today, and I want to thank the victims' families for their courage and support throughout this investigation.”

Three teenage boys sentenced after two girls raped in separate attacks

Source: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) published on this website Friday 22 May 2026 by Jill Powell

Three teenage boys have today been sentenced after they were convicted of a knife-point rape and other serious sexual offences against two teenage girls in Hampshire.

The boys, who were aged 13, 14 and 14 at the time of the offences, cannot be named for legal reasons.

During a five-week trial at Southampton Crown Court which resulted in their convictions on 5 March 2026, jurors heard that the victims, aged 14 and 15 at the time, were attacked in separate incidents less than two months apart and were physically overpowered. The girls did not know one another.

In January 2025, a 14 year old girl was assaulted after becoming separated from her friends. She was threatened with a knife and forced to leave her mobile phone and AirTag in a shop so that her movements could not be tracked, before being taken to a secluded area.

Two defendants took it in turns to rape the victim while the others encouraged the offending and filmed the assaults. The defendants left the scene when they believed they had been disturbed. The victim was later found distressed and reported the incident to police.

Forensic evidence supported the victim’s account, including damage to her trousers consistent with the use of a sharp instrument.

The investigation later identified a second victim, aged 15, who was raped in November 2024 by two of the same defendants, both aged 14 at the time.

The court heard that the victim had met one of the defendants online and travelled alone to meet him. They were later joined by another boy and taken to an underpass, where she was raped by both of them.

Today at Southampton Crown Court, Boy A, from Hampshire, who was convicted of two counts of rape and count of taking indecent images of a child, has been sentenced to a three-year youth rehabilitation order.

Boy B, from Dorset, who was convicted of six counts of rape, has been sentenced to a three-year youth rehabilitation order.

Boy C, from Hampshire, who was convicted of two counts of rape, has been sentenced to an 18-month youth rehabilitation order.

Whenever a rape or serious sexual offence case involves a child suspect, it is reviewed by a prosecutor with expertise in both rape and youth offending.

As in all cases, the prosecutor will carefully consider all of the evidence. The prosecutor will take into account the full circumstances of both the victim and the child suspect to ensure any decision to prosecute is fair, proportionate and reflects the gravity of the offence.

Lucy Paddick, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

“This is a deeply concerning case which involved a disturbing level of encouragement between young boys, who acted together to rape two young girls in separate incidents. These girls were forced into sexual activity by boys who brazenly filmed the deeply distressing incidents. After speaking with the victims in this case and reviewing an extensive file of evidence, it was the Crown Prosecution Service’s case that these girls were violated and could not have consented to these terrifying encounters. The CPS worked closely with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary to support the victims and other young witnesses to give their evidence, and we commend them for the courage they showed throughout this trial. Our lawyers will work tirelessly to pursue justice for victims, and we will continue to hold those responsible for crimes of this devastating nature to account, regardless of their age.”

Siobhan Blake, National CPS Lead for Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO), said:

“It is deeply distressing to see any instance of sexual offending, especially when it involves young victims and offenders. Our prosecutors tell us they are seeing youth-on-youth cases with some involving more serious and more violent behaviour.

“It is vital young people are educated and informed about consent and that harmful and misogynistic attitudes are tackled as early as possible to prevent these crimes. Everyone has a part to play. Young people must understand that sexual activity without consent is a serious criminal offence that can lead to them being prosecuted.

“To any young person who has been a victim of crime or who has seen or heard about sexual abuse happening – please tell a trusted adult. You are not in trouble, and we will be here to support you through the next steps.”