A DRAMATIC rise in the use of social media platforms to target and groom children has been recorded.

In new figures obtained by the NSPCC, Lancashire Police revealed that 175 cases of child grooming crimes had been recorded by police over an 18-month period from 2017.

Freedom of Information requests sent to every police force in the country showed that nationally, a total of 5,161 crimes of sexual communication with a child had taken place over the same period.

High percentages of the offences were committed on Snapchat and Instagram, with girls aged between 12-15 the most likely to be targeted. But some victims from the study were as young as five.

Emily (not her real name), was 13 when she was groomed online by a 24-year-old man.

She first met him in person because he was dating an older girl she knew and when he introduced himself initially he said he was 16, which quickly changed to 18.

She told him she was 13. Later that evening he added her on Facebook and Snapchat.

She said: “It escalated very quickly from there.

"We exchanged texts which quickly became sexual, then photos and videos before arranging for him to come and pick me up after school.

"He drove me somewhere quiet and took me into the woods and had sex with me.

"He drove me in the direction of home straight afterwards, refusing to even talk, and then kicked me out of the car at the traffic lights. I was crying.”

Emily’s mother Wendy said: “We felt as though we had failed as parents – we knew about these social media sites, we thought we were doing everything we could to ensure our children’s safety when they were online, but we still couldn’t protect Emily.

“Somebody has got to take responsibility for what happens to children on their platforms. Simply put, if social media didn’t exist, this would never have happened to Emily."

Ahead of the imminent publication of the government’s Online Harms White Paper, the NSPCC is urging ministers to tame the ‘Wild West Web’ by bringing in statutory regulation to enforce a legal duty of care to children on social networks, backed by hefty fines if they fail.

Peter Wanless, NSPCC chief executive, said: “These figures are overwhelming evidence that keeping children safe cannot be left to social networks.

“We cannot wait for the next tragedy before tech companies are made to act. It is hugely concerning to see the sharp spike in grooming offences on Instagram, and it is vital that the platform designs basic protection more carefully into the service it offers young people.

“After 10 years of failed self-regulation by social networks, it is crucial that the Government’s imminent Online Harms White Paper includes new laws that tackle online grooming once and for all.”

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “It’s really important for parents to talk with their children about these apps and games and the potential risks they can be exposed to.

“Further advice on staying safe online is available on our website www.lancashire.police.uk and the NSPCC publishes advice and guidance for parents on discussing online safety with their children.”