Police urge parents to check their children’s phones for 10 apps used by online child abusers

North Yorkshire Police have issued a list of ten apps and chat tools used by paedophiles to contact young people online.

These apps have featured in a range of recent investigations into child abuse, indecent images of children, sexual communication with a child offences.

Apps such as Whisper (logo pictured to the right) and Kik are increasingly featuring in such cases, which require extensive enquiries by the force’s Digital Forensics Unit to secure key evidence.

More information, support and reporting

• Child Exploitation Online Protection command (CEOP) – www.ceop.police.uk/
• NSPCC Helplines: Help for adults concerned about a child – call 0808 800 5000; Help for children and young people – call Childline on 0800 1111; Go to www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/

• Please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101. If you are in immediate danger, always dial 999 for an emergency response
• You can also contact Supporting Victims in North Yorkshire at www.supportingvictims.org or call 01609 643100.