A NATIONAL charity that combats the viewing on online child abuse images has seen a huge surge in the number of people from Cumbria calling its helpline - up from 338 in 2018 to 525 last year.

The Stop It Now charity encourages people to address their illegal and damaging online behaviour by taking up the help that is currently on offer while the helpline itself offers confidential and anonymous support to people worried about their sexual thoughts and online behaviour.

The charity has highlighted the catastrophic potential consequences of viewing online child abuse images. As well as the profound damage being done to child victims, the charity underlined how offenders also face life-changing consequences, including a possible jail sentence, and being put on Sex Offenders' Register.

The helpline also supports adult family and friends of people who are offending - or at risk of offending.

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. These men are our friends, family, neighbours and colleagues.

"Most are adults, but a significant proportion are teenagers. 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.

“Whoever they are, they need to know this behaviour is illegal. It is not a victimless crime and viewing the images creates demand for more.

"Serious consequences await those involved in this behaviour, but our helpline and website give anonymous, and confidential support and advice to stop and stay stopped. Friends, family and colleagues need to know this too - so they notice and do something.

“The Stop It Now! helpline has worked with thousands of these men and the people around them over recent years - we help everyone be part of the solution to this problem. We hope to help thousands more in 2020."

The confidential Stop It Now confidential helpline number is: 0808 1000 900. The website can be found at

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.

“Tackling this horrendous crime is our priority and a national priority, 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.”

David is a former internet offender who called the helpline

This is his story. He was in his early 30s and was travelling a lot due to his job.

David 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

* Since 2015, more than 188,000 people in the UK have used the charity's websote site.