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The surge in investigations is largely driven by a robust international and national intelligence network
Of the total inputs received this year, over 6,000 leads were transferred to other states after they were found to fall outside Delhi’s jurisdiction, while 2,826 were closed following verification as non-actionable. Representational image
In a significant crackdown on digital crimes against minors, the Special Police Unit for Women and Children (SPUWAC) of the Delhi Police has intensified its operations against online sexual abuse. Official data for 2025 reveals that the unit forwarded 1,197 actionable leads related to child pornography and the online sexual abuse of minors to various district units. These specific inputs, processed between January 1 and December 19, have already culminated in the registration of 60 First Information Reports (FIRs) across the national capital.
The surge in investigations is largely driven by a robust international and national intelligence network. SPUWAC received a staggering 10,151 initial inputs during the year via referrals from the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). These “cyber tiplines” are routed through the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which acts as the central nodal agency. Upon receiving these reports, SPUWAC’s dedicated NCMEC Cell conducts preliminary inquiries to verify the authenticity and jurisdiction of the data. Of the total inputs received this year, over 6,000 leads were transferred to other states after they were found to fall outside Delhi’s jurisdiction, while 2,826 were closed following verification as non-actionable.
The 2025 figures highlight a concentrated effort in the year’s final quarter. Coordinated action between SPUWAC and district police resulted in 52 FIRs being registered in November and December alone. This period saw increased focus on repeat offenders, aided by supplemental data files from global tech intermediaries like Google. While the 60 FIRs registered this year mark a decline from the 136 registered in 2024, officials suggest this reflects more stringent preliminary vetting and a focus on high-impact prosecution.
Beyond its enforcement role, SPUWAC continues to serve as a nodal body for community safety and victim support. The unit handled over 200 counselling matters in 2025, successfully resolving dozens of cases involving domestic discord and harassment through reconciliation. Additionally, SPUWAC reached a historic milestone in its outreach efforts by training over 4.13 lakh women and girls in self-defence programmes this year—the highest annual figure recorded since the initiative’s inception in 2002.
December 21, 2025, 04:21 IST
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