ALMOST two thirds of people accused of trying to engage in sexual activity with a child in North Yorkshire in the last three years were not charged, police have revealed.

Figures released under the Freedom Of Information Act showed the number of times North Yorkshire Police recorded offences of ‘attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity’ has remained steady in the last three years, with seven cases in 2015, and six in both 2016 and 2017.

However, of those incidents, only three charges were made in 2015 and 2016, and just one in 2017 - just 36 per cent - while only one person was cautioned in the same three-year period (in 2016).

Police said one of these incidents was connected to individuals or groups “trying to track down paedophiles”.

The FOI also looked at the number of reports of people who have an offence of ‘causing a child to watch sexual activity’.

None were reported in 2015, four were reported in 2016, and two were reported last year, again with one case linked to individuals or groups taking the law into their own hands.

Of the four people accused in 2016, three were charged, and of the two accused last year, one was charged.

The number of people accused of ‘attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming’ has risen steadily in the last three years, according to police.

In 2015, six people were reported, in 2016, eight people were reported, and last year saw nine reports to the force. Of these, four were charged (one in 2015, two in 2016 and one in 2017), and one received a caution (in 2015).

A police spokesman said the force worked with agencies to try and prevent and detect child sex exploitation and abuse, as part of the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Board.

“Young people often trust their abuser and believe they are in a loving, consensual relationship when in fact they are being exploited for sexual gratification. They may find it hard to accept they are a victim of a very serious crime and may be unwilling to report offences or co-operate with the police."

“Children and young people may also depend on their abuser or be too scared to tell anyone what’s happening. We would reassure any victim of such offences that they should not hesitate in coming forward to the police. Even if it is not possible to put an offender before the courts, it’s important you are offered the support and advice that is available. Your information could also help to protect other victims and help us form a wider picture of offending.”

The spokesman also said the force would “act appropriately on any information” brought to its attention, but reiterated the position on so-called paedophile hunter groups is that they “are taking risks they do not understand and which can undermine police investigations”.