SOUTH Yorkshire Police and Barnsley Council have teamed up to ensure that children are able to remain safe online - after it was revealed that more than 600 crimes related to online child sexual exploitation or grooming were recorded over a two-year period.
Between April 2023 and March 2025, South Yorkshire Police has recorded 610 crimes related to online CSE or grooming, which includes the use of online messaging services.
The Barnsley Contextual Safeguarding team, called BSAFE, have been looking at how they can tackle online grooming, as well as raising awareness of the potential dangers of using online platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram.
Over the next few weeks, teenagers in Barnsley who use Snapchat are set to see a video which will show them how online grooming can play out and what to do if they spot the signs in their own lives or someone else’s.
Detective Chief Inspector Scott Harrison, force lead for CSE, said: “It is so important that we provide education around online grooming, and how easily children and young people can become victims of this, often without realising they’re at risk until harm has occurred.
“Adding new people on these online messaging platforms may seem innocent, and the messages usually start off friendly, but sadly, they can turn abusive in a very short space of time, with demands for intimate images and the threat of consequences if they are not sent.
“If you are a victim of online grooming, it’s important to know that you are not to blame.
“Anyone can become a victim of online grooming, and so it is important that we provide tools and resources to empower those who are in the lives of our young people to have open conversations around the dangers of speaking to those we don’t know online.”
The BSAFE team uses virtual reality to deliver programmes to victims and their families.
Education sessions are also delivered to young people who have been identified as being at higher risk of CSE and CCE across Barnsley.
The team also conducts regular operations across Barnsley, involving officers in plain clothes who conduct targeted patrols to look for suspicious activity.
Coun Ashley Peace, cabinet spokesperson for children’s services, added: “In today’s digital world, technology plays a role in almost every part of our lives, and that includes how our young people connect and communicate.
“While the internet offers many opportunities, it also brings risks that we must take seriously.
“This campaign highlights the importance of working together to protect children and young people from online grooming and exploitation.
“In Barnsley, we’re proud to be part of the Barnsley Safeguarding Children’s Partnership alongside South Yorkshire Police, our schools, and safeguarding teams to raise awareness and provide education that helps keep our young people safe.
“By equipping families, carers, and professionals with the right tools and knowledge, we can support open conversations and empower young people to make safer choices online.
“Together, we can build a community where children feel supported, informed, and protected.”
