DORSET Police are urging victims of blackmail to come forward after the force saw a record number of offences reported to them last year.

Home Office figures show Dorset Police recorded 293 blackmail offences in the year to March – up from 206 in 2020-21, and the most since comparable records began in 2012-13.

Across England and Wales, 22,000 such offences were recorded in 2021-22 – more than double the number before the coronavirus pandemic in 2019-20, and also a record.

The crime – which is punishable by up to 14 years in jail – is one of the fastest growing over the last decade.

Although the figures do not break down the type of blackmail carried out, the National Crime Agency views "sextortion", or webcam blackmail – where victims are tricked into performing sexual acts on video – as a growing threat.

Detective Chief Superintendent Pete Little, of Dorset Police, said: “We take all incidents of blackmail very seriously and will carry out a full and thorough investigation into all offences reported to us.

“Dorset Police saw an increase in the number of blackmail reports over the last twelve months, which is in line with the national picture.

“The blackmail offences recorded include sextortion, which is a cyber-enabled crime in which victims are lured into performing sexual acts in front of a webcam. The video is recorded by the criminals who then threaten to share it with the victim's friends and family, blackmailing the victim to pay them money to prevent this happening.

“Criminals involved in these offences are often coordinated by organised crime groups based overseas. However, we are not complacent and will follow all lines of enquiry available to us to identify offenders.

“We have been working hard to encourage victims of blackmail offences to come forward and report what has happened to Dorset Police.

“Also, we would continue to strongly urge victims to report any incidents at the earliest opportunity, to allow us to provide support to them and carry out extensive enquiries so that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Separate figures show that of the 20,360 blackmail investigations closed nationwide in 2021-22, just 1% resulted in a charge or summons, and 59% with no suspect identified.

Of these, 271 were concluded in Dorset, with 49% resulting in no suspect being identified, 46% abandoned due to evidential difficulties and 1% with a charge or summons.

Supt Little added: “Consistent with many forces and as highlighted by the HMICFRS report, it is acknowledged that we do need to improve the number of crimes where an offender is caught and held to account through the justice system. This is very much part of our ongoing work, alongside partners, to prevent crime, relentlessly pursue criminals and bring them to justice.

“We work closely with criminal justice partners to ensure all opportunities to bring offenders to justice are considered whilst also focussing on repeat offenders by working closely with them to reduce reoffending.

“With the assistance of the Victims’ Bureau, we also continue to offer crime prevention advice and support to help stop people falling victim to such crimes.

“If you have been a victim of blackmail, report it to police online, via 101 or by dialling 999 in an emergency. For information on sextortion, please visit: www.dorset.police.uk/support-and-guidance/sextortion/".