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The National Crime Agency (NCA) and police chiefs in Europe expressed their ‘deep’ concern that end-to-end encryption is being rolled out in a way that undermines their ability to investigate crime and keep the public safe and the NPCC has responded.

Responding to the report, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Child Protection Ian Critchley QPM, said: “The work of the IWF is crucial in the identification, removal and reporting of child sexual abuse material. 

“Working together to provide hope and light to those who have lived in darkness and despair” - that’s the message from policing’s child protection lead, Ian Critchley QPM, following the Vulnerability and Exploitation Conference 2024.

As the scale of online harms affecting children in the UK continues to rise, Ian Critchley QPM the NPCC Lead for Child Abuse and Investigation, has joined professionals to further inform Government Ministers of the stark realities facing children and young people in the online realm.

National Police Chief's Lead for Child Protection and Abuse, Ian Critchley QPM on the progress policing has made in child sexual abuse and exploitation investigation, and why belief is at the heart of this. 

A series of Instagram posts have been created to engage with children and young people in relation to child sexual exploitation (CSE).

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has released the findings of its inspection into the effectiveness of the police and law enforcement bodies’ response to group-based child sexual exploitation today (8 December).

The Hydrant Programme provided peer support to South Wales Police as they investigated one of their own officers. Today he has been sentenced to life for blackmailing underage girls to send explicit photos 

Ian Critchley, QPM has spoken of progress made in policing in the 12 months since the final report was published.

“I contacted the panel and got a response really quickly. It was such a relief to feel that someone was listening and taking my enquiry seriously.”

We're pleased to share with you the Hydrant Programme's Annual Report for 2022. 

In the report you'll find an update on how Hydrant's work has changed since restructuring at the end of July 2022 and the exciting plans ahead in 2023.