The number of grooming offences recorded in Essex has increased more than ten-fold in five years.

Data released by the NSPCC reveals that the number of incidents reported to Essex Police has risen sharply.

From April 1, 2013 to April 1, 2014, there were eight recorded offences.

However, between April 1, 2017 to January 1, 2018, there have already been 93.

This increase could be due in part to the new offence of Sexual Communication with a Child, brought into force in April 2017, as well as offences for Meeting a Child After Grooming.

Tony Stower, NSPCC head of child safety online, said: “These thousands of crimes show the sheer scale of grooming, where predators have either messaged their victim or gone on to meet them in person.

“At present our Government is only prepared to tackle grooming after the harm has been done, and its forthcoming Internet Safety Strategy has no plans to prevent grooming from happening in the first place.

“Culture Secretary Matt Hancock could change this and bring an end to the Wild West Web. I urge him to bring in regulation for social networks, backed by an independent regulator with teeth.”