WILTSHIRE Police recorded 64 instances of child grooming crimes in just 18 months according to new figures released by the NSPCC today.

The child protection charity has revealed that 563 online grooming offences were reported to police across the region between April 2017 to September 18, with 11 per cent of those to Wiltshire Police.

Police revealed which methods groomers used in 1,317 instances from across England and Wales, with records showing Instagram was used in 32 per cent, Facebook in 23 per cent and Snapchat in 14 per cent of those instances.

The NSPCC is concerned the majority of grooming offences continue to take place on the three largest sites with the resources to tackle this issue.

The data obtained from 39 of the 43 forces in England and Wales, under Freedom of Information laws, also shows that in the latest six month period, girls aged 12 to 15 were most likely to be targeted by groomers and victims included children as young as five years old.

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.”