Over the past year, the Marie Collins Foundation (MCF) has focused on a critical but often overlooked issue: the way the justice system sentences technology-assisted child sexual abuse (TACSA) offences. While the scale and severity of these crimes continue to grow, sentencing practice has not kept pace - with serious consequences for victims, survivors and public confidence in justice.
Why sentencing matters
Sentencing is not simply a procedural outcome. It signals how seriously harm is recognised, how victims are valued, and how effectively society seeks to prevent further abuse. When TACSA offences receive light or non-custodial sentences, particularly in cases involving the most serious child sexual abuse material (CSAM), it risks minimising the lifelong impact on victims and undermining deterrence.
The scale of the issue is stark. CSAM offences have increased by more than 830% since 2014, yet custodial sentences remain comparatively rare. In 2023, only 522 convicted CSAM offenders received a prison sentence, despite the severity of many cases.
Where sentencing is falling short
MCF has consistently raised concerns about cases involving Category A imagery - the most serious material depicting rape and extreme abuse of children - which can result in suspended or community sentences only. These decisions often focus on the rehabilitation of the offender while overlooking the enduring harm experienced by victims whose abuse is repeatedly viewed and shared.
MCF believes there is a disconnect between the harm of TACSA and the need to punish such harm appropriately. At present, we feel that current sentencing practice is failing to achieve a suitable harm to punishment ratio.
Raising TACSA sentencing in Parliament
Throughout 2025, MCF has worked across party lines to elevate these concerns within Parliament. We have collaborated closely with MPs from different political parties to increase understanding of TACSA sentencing failures and advocate for reform.
In the House of Lords, Lord Russell tabled three amendments to the Sentencing Bill following close engagement with MCF. These amendments sought to:
Although the amendments were ultimately withdrawn, they prompted robust debate and helped secure formal recognition of the need to strengthen sentencing approaches for TACSA offences.
Ministerial engagement and growing momentum
MCF’s expertise has been recognised directly in parliamentary debates, with the organisation cited in the House of Lords as a specialist authority on TACSA and sentencing policy. We have also been cited in the Northern Ireland Assembly chamber this year, raising the same concerns in the Northern Irish context - demonstrating that these issues are being recognised across multiple jurisdictions.
This visibility has helped drive meaningful engagement at ministerial level. The Justice Minister has acknowledged the importance of courts keeping pace with evolving technological harms and has expressed a commitment to exploring how sentencing guidelines can better reflect the seriousness of TACSA offences. Discussions are ongoing around improving data collection and analysis to better understand sentencing patterns and outcomes - a crucial step towards reform.
MCF remains committed to working with the Government, parliamentarians and peers to foster better sentencing practice for TACSA-offences
What this means for victims and survivors
For victims of TACSA, sentencing decisions are not abstract. They shape:
MCF’s policy work is grounded in survivor insight and focused on ensuring that sentencing frameworks reflect the true nature and impact of technology-assisted abuse.
What happens next
Reforming sentencing practice takes time, persistence and evidence. MCF will continue to:
Progress is being made - and TACSA sentencing is no longer invisible. But, sustained attention is essential to ensure justice systems truly protect children in the digital age.