Offenders in online communities collaborate and compete to cause harm online and offline through cyber-attacks such as launching malware, ransomware or executing data breaches; extremism; grooming and blackmailing and child sexual abuse, according to the Nation Crime Agency, which leads the UK’s fight to cut serious and organised crime. Online communities known as “Com” networks represent an “emerging threat”, reports of which have increased sixfold in the UK from 2022 to 2024.

The warning follows growing concerns about boys and young men in the online “manosphere”, after the Netflix hit Adolescence became the most talked about TV show of the year for its depiction of the relationship between online “incel” culture and real-world harm.

The NCA director general, Graeme Biggar, said: “These groups are not lurking on the dark web, they exist in the same online world and platforms young people use on a daily.

“Operating online clearly makes these offenders feel protected and out of reach but that is absolutely not the case. There have already been convictions; we and partners have made arrests in the UK and overseas, and further investigations are ongoing.”