THE number of children counselled by ChildLine about online sexual abuse increased by 168 per cent last year – averaging seven contacts a day to the free, 24-hour helpline.

The Yorkshire and Humber online ChildLine base in Leeds counselled 56 children about online sexual abuse last year.

The rise in children’s cries for help – to 2,842 counselling sessions – is revealed as the NSPCC launches its Flaw in the Law campaign to make it a crime for an adult to send a child a sexual message.

NSPCC head of child safety online Claire Lilley said: “No adult should be deliberately sending sexual messages to children, but incredibly it is not always illegal. Existing laws are a hotch-potch and sex offenders can and do exploit the loopholes.The rise of online communication means that children are increasingly being exposed to sexual messages from adults, on social networks or through messaging apps, but in many cases the police are powerless to act.”

“Currently, old laws are being stretched to fit new paedophile behaviour. The Serious Crime Bill now being debated in Parliament is a timely opportunity to tailor the law to better protect children from sexual abuse. And we need the public to get behind our Flaw in the Law campaign.”

A national YouGov poll, which included 174 people from Yorkshire and the Humber found that nearly three out of four adults believe it is already illegal for someone over 18 to send a sexual message to a child under 16 – when in fact no such specific offence exists.

Anyone looking for advice about keeping children safe online or concerned about the safety and welfare of a child, can contact the NSPCC’s 24-hour helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk