Revealed: Grindr and Tinder among dating apps liked to North East crimes

Since 2017, the region’s forces have investigated a catalogue of crimes linked to popular dating sites including Tinder, Grindr and Plenty of Fish.

In addition, more ‘romance scams’ involving financial fraud have been reported to the national Action Fraud initiative.

The vast majority of those using the internet to find love do so without incident – but figures obtained by the Echo show more than 300 offences have been linked to leading dating platforms in recent years.

They include 44 rape allegations, 45 blackmail offences, four cases of sexual activity with a child, four grooming offences, 46 harassment claims and 21 stalking cases.

Earlier this year, serial rapist Tom Rodwell was jailed for life after attacking five women he met on Tinder.

The “callous, unfeeling sexual predator” contacted victims via the app before abusing them physically and sexually.

Another North East rapist, Kristian Stevenson, received a five-year prison sentence in 2018 after attacking his Tinder date.

Cleveland Police investigated 82 offences linked to dating sites between 2017 and May this year while Durham Constabulary recorded 125 and North Yorkshire Police logged 129. Northumbria Police has not yet responded to our Freedom of Information request.

The outcomes of 254 cases were disclosed to the Echo – they included 47 that were dropped due to evidential difficulties, ten which ended with a charge and 55 that were still being investigated.

Serial rapist Tom Rodwell met victims on dating apps

Where gender was disclosed, 48 out of 52 suspects identified were male, while 148 out of 251 victims were female.

There were 14 victims aged under-18 and seven over the age of 60.

Deniz Ugur from the End Violence Against Women Coalition said women were disproportionately the victims of dating app crimes.

She said some companies were proactive in tackling the issue, but added: “We need more attention on preventing men from assaulting women in all the spaces we exist in, especially including online.

“Tech companies like dating apps and social media platforms have a critical role to play - by not prioritising women’s freedom and safety they are effectively facilitating our abuse and profiting from it.”

Read more: Stalking on the rise in the North East

Of the crimes disclosed, 160 were linked to Tinder, 54 to Grindr, 91 to Plenty of Fish, 15 to match.com, 12 to Bumble and one to Hinge.

Diana Fawcett, chief executive at Victim Support, said dating app companies must do more to protect users.

She said: “Crimes committed over dating apps can have a devastating impact on victims.

“In addition to harmful emotional or financial effects, many wrongly feel shame or embarrassment.

“There must be better systems in place to vet users more rigorously and detect potentially harmful behaviour.”

A spokesman for Grindr said it took the safety of its users seriously and publishes safety tips, while encouraging users to be careful when interacting with strangers and to report improper or illegal behaviour.

Bumble’s safety measures include photo verification, video calling features and the monitoring of hate speech and violence.

A Durham Constabulary spokeswoman said: “The vast majority of people using online dating sites are sincere and honest in the information they provide and in their reasons for joining.

“However, there are exceptions, and users should be aware of the potential dangers so they can protect themselves both online and in person.”

For serious offenders like Rodwell, use of dating sites represents just one way of reaching victims.

In many cases, it is likely they would have offended irrespective of how relationships were formed - and there is often no way a victim could anticipate how they would behave.

However, police have urged people not to rush into online relationships and never to share key personal information or send money to strangers.

Public meetings, short first dates and leaving dates quickly if made to feel uncomfortable were also advised.