The PSNI has joined child protection charity Lucy Faithful Foundation for a new campaign to tackle child sexual abuse online.
The 'Stop It Now' campaign aims to deter people from online sexual offending against children.
It particularly focuses on deterring people from viewing sexual images of those under the age of 18, and sexual conversations with those under the age of 16, both of which are illegal.
Lucy Faithfull Foundation, which runs the 'Stop It Now' helpline and website, works to prevent people from offending online in the first place and to get them to stop if they have already started.
Last year, 83 people in Northern Ireland reached out to the charity via phonecalls, online chat and email.
The 'Stop It Now' website was accessed by more than 6,500 people seeking further information for either themselves of someone else.
There were 2,187 sexual offences against children recorded in Northern Ireland 2024, 187 of which relate to grooming and sexual communication with a child.
Almost 800 offences relating to taking, possessing, sharing or publishing indecent images of children were reported in 2024.
Also that year, the PSNI carried out 228 searches and made 76 arrests from intelligence relating to online child sexual abuse crimes.
"The advancement in technology, accessibility to indecent images of children, and the presumption of anonymity whilst offending online has seen an increase in the number of people viewing and sharing indecent images of children and seeking to use the internet to engage with children for sexual purposes," said Detective Chief Inspector Claire McDonald.
"This type of offending is unacceptable. As a police service, we have a duty to protect children from harm and to deter individuals from committing these types of horrific offences and we will continue to seek to identify and convict those individuals responsible.
"We will never stop searching online for child predators. My team work incredibly hard and are dedicated to identifying and bringing people before the courts who think their offending can go undetected.
DCI McDonald said police are operating "covertly" in all digital spaces, including the dark web, to track and target offenders.
She warned offenders that there is "no place to hide".
"If you are perpetrating online child abuse, it is only a matter of time before we will be knocking on your door," she said.
"That being said, we also recognise the need to educate and stop individuals from continuing to offend, or prevent individuals from offending in the first place. Our partnership with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation plays a key role in this, providing an online space or confidential helpline in which to signpost individuals who are about to offend, to recognise the consequences of their actions and to seek support."
The Head of Clinical Engagement at Lucy Faithfull Foundation, Tom Squire, said the organisation's partnership with the PSNI is "instrumental" to deter people from online sexual offending against children.
He said thousands of people seek support from 'Stop It Now' every year because of concerns about their online behaviour or sexual thoughts towards children.
They come from all walks of life, he added.
"Through our programmes, online self-help modules, and non-judgmental, action-oriented conversations with our expert helpline advisors, they can find a pathway out of this behaviour and prevent harm from taking place," he said.
"We call on anyone with concerns about child sexual abuse, including their own online habits, to contact 'Stop It Now' anonymously and get support to change their behaviour and protect children.
"This behaviour is illegal and causes great harm to children. There are grave consequences including arrest, losing your job and family.
"But there is anonymous help to stop, and there is a pathway out of this behaviour."
'I felt like I was finally going to get the help I'd needed for years'
Bradley began viewing indecent images of children online in his 20s and later sought help from the 'Stop It Now' helpline.
He said that in the days leading up to his arrest, his life looked successful from the outside.
"I was 24, earning a six-figure salary, and seemed confident and put-together at work. But privately, I was deeply unhappy," he said.
"When I was at home, the person people saw in the office disappeared. I used porn and sexting to escape."
Bradley first access porn when he was around seven years old and said his tolerance changed over time.
"What once satisfied me stopped working, so I sought out more extreme content. For a long time it stayed within legal boundaries, but eventually I pushed beyond them. It wasn't a sudden jump - it was a slow progression driven by isolation, stress, shame, and an unwillingness to reach out for help," he said.
"The day I was arrested, my first reaction wasn't anger or denial - it was relief. I felt like I was finally going to get the help I'd needed for years.
Bradley said his life has "changed dramatically" since he was arrested.
"Through support services, like those provided by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, I've been able to better understand myself, my compulsions and most important, the harm caused by my action.
"Shame doesn't prevent offending, support does. If you're worried about your sexual online behaviours, know that help is available."
