The Met Police is to trial the use of AI to support the rapid grading and triage of child sexual abuse imagery.
The technology could help investigators to identify and safeguard victims more quickly, while also reducing the need for officers and staff to manually review deeply distressing material.
This comes alongside a wider £10 million investment into spaces which will reduce trauma and improve outcomes for child victims.
Over the past year, the Met has investigated over 5,400 child sexual abuse offences. This required over 1300 children to be safeguarded for online child sexual abuse and exploitation (OCSAE) crimes. Online abuse is one of the fastest-growing crime types. OCSAE has increased by 25% year‑on‑year, with the Met currently managing over 12 per cent of cases nationally.
Currently, officers may need to spend hours manually reviewing seized material to establish whether images or videos relate to known cases or indicate new, unidentified victims in need of urgent safeguarding. Images are then graded, across categories A, B, and C.
AI could assist by rapidly analysing large volumes of material to help flag content that may relate to previously unknown victims, enabling officers to prioritise cases, accelerate safeguarding action and focus human expertise where it is needed most.
The Met is also funding a £10 million programme to roll out new, victim‑dedicated Visual Recorded Interview (VRI) suites across London. This follows feedback from child victims, families and frontline officers and are designed to support children of all ages, including those who are disabled or neurodiverse.
Design improvements include adjustable furniture to support younger children, expanded space for drawing and communication aids, improved educational and age‑appropriate resources, and calmer, more welcoming environments.
Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes said: “The scale and complexity of child sexual abuse is changing, particularly online, and we must change how we respond.
“Alongside investing £10 million in child‑first interview spaces, we are exploring how artificial intelligence can be used responsibly to help identify potential new victims far more quickly than is possible through manual review alone. That speed matters when it comes to safeguarding children.
“This approach could also significantly reduce the amount of time officers and staff are exposed to the most distressing material, while ensuring that human judgement, strong oversight and victim care remain at the heart of every investigation.”
London’s Victims’ Commissioner, Andrea Simon, said: "I welcome the Met Police’s investment in refurbishing their Video Recorded Interview (VRI) suites. For many victims, a VRI takes place early in the criminal justice process and safe, well-designed environments can make a real difference in building trust, during what can be a very traumatic time.
“Refurbished evidence suites that are designed around vulnerable victims and children’s needs is an important step forward. However, improving facilities is only one part of the picture. Many victims withdraw from the justice process before a charging decision is made, and to tackle this it is critical that victims are treated with care, dignity and support throughout every interaction with the police."
