Faroese police uncover nearly all online sex crimes against children with new technology

Faroese police now detect nearly all online sex crimes against children, a shift attributed to new monitoring technology, according to a report by Kringvarp Føroya.

The annual police report for 2025, released this week, highlights a rise in serious crimes, with sexual offences and child abuse cited as growing concerns. The internet and social media have significantly altered the pattern of such crimes compared to previous years.

Since gaining access to the US-based National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) in 2022, Faroese police have received around 1,500 tip-offs, with the first 500 arriving immediately after access was granted. About a quarter of these reports are substantiated and fully investigated, said Deputy Police Inspector Heri Andreasen.