For the second year running policing has seen consistent growth in child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) with more than 115,000 crimes reported, a figure that has risen significantly in the past ten years, according to the second National Analysis of Police Recorded Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) Crimes Report.

The report reveals that around a third of CSAE contact crimes take place within the family environment and more than half of offences (where the age was known) were committed by children aged ten to 17. Offending ranged from experimental image-based abuse to serious contact offences.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) says this national snapshot gives insight and analysis into the scale and nature of reported CSAE, trends in offending including crime types, and presents profiles of both victims and perpetrators. 

Becky Riggs, NPCC lead for child abuse protection and investigation, commented, “Prioritising prevention is critical. We must stop the CSAE from happening and prevent so many children and young people from enduring the long term harm that abuse brings. At the same time we must give confidence to victims to come forward, safe in the knowledge that they will receive a compassionate and professional response. Policing must continue to relentlessly pursue offenders to justice, whilst not unnecessarily criminalising children engaged in harmful behaviours where appropriate.”

Another report recently released by the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse (CSA Centre) shows a record number of charges for child sexual abuse offences were made by police forces in England and Wales in 2023/24, but the majority of investigations are closed with no further action due to evidential difficulties. 

In contrast with policing, Local Authority Children’s Services in England placed just 2,160 children on child protection plans for sexual abuse in 2023/24, the lowest number in 30 years. Ian Dean, director of the CSA Centre, commented, “our latest analysis shows that child sexual abuse is less likely to be identified and named as a concern in child protection plan than ever before. We continue to estimate that at least half a million children will experience sexual abuse each year, and the gap between this estimate and those actually identified and supported by safeguarding professionals remains far too wide.”

He went on to say that these latest reports, “underline the need for system-wide change in how sexually abused children are identified, responded to and protected by all statutory safeguarding agencies. We need to build a system where professionals have strong leadership, clear guidance, and proper support to identify abuse early and prevent further harm. Around all of this we need to build capacity across our society to prevent abuse from happening. These long-standing issues require concerted and determined cross-government activity, with sustained commitment over the coming years.”

Lynn Perry, Barnardo’s chief executive, said: “This report by the CSA Centre makes it clear that thousands of children experiencing sexual abuse are going undetected and unsupported… We urge the Government to use the new Crime and Policing Bill to make the changes that child victims of sexual abuse desperately need. It rightly includes measures to protect children and provide help for professionals to identify abuse and act effectively – but we also call on the government to make sure all children who have been abused or exploited have access to the specialist support services they need.”

Mandatory reporting was a key recommendation of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. The reporting duty aims to better protect children, and create a culture of support, knowledge and openness for professionals when dealing with child sexual abuse.

Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, responded to the reports stating “It is paramount we do more to protect children from these horrors. In January, the Government announced a raft of new measures and an investment of £10 million that will allow us to do that and drive change at a local level. We are introducing mandatory reporting for adults working or volunteering with children in England as part of the Crime and Policing Bill. In addition, anyone trying to cover up abuse by interfering with the duty to report can go to prison for up to seven years.”