Home Sec clamps down on violent porn as reports of rape increase amongst young girls

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has revealed that 14-year-old girls are now the most common age group to report rape, describing the statistic as “most disturbing.”

She warns that violent pornography is influencing young boys' attitudes towards sex, urging for tougher action from parents, schools, and social media companies.

Police data shows 1,458 14-year-old girls reported rape in 2023-24, more than any other age group, with 9,928 reported rapes involving under-19s.

Cooper criticised social media companies, particularly Meta, for failing in their "moral obligation" to prevent child abuse material from being shared on platforms like WhatsApp.

She accused them of prioritising profits over children's safety, urging them to work more closely with law enforcement to remove harmful content.

On Saturday, Cooper will announce her support of the National Centre for Public Protection. Set up last year, the centre will focus on identifying high-risk male offenders using counter-terrorism style data analysis and covert tactics.

Cooper aims for the police to treat violence against women with the same seriousness as terrorism, as part of Labour's broader commitment to halve violence rates in the next decade.

Labour's plans include £100 million annually to establish Young Futures hubs, which will support at-risk youth and tackle mental health issues, aiming to shift attitudes towards women and prevent future violence.

Cooper emphasised the need for a government-wide effort to ensure future generations are not "let down" in the same way.