It is very hard to establish exact numbers of young people with sexually harmful behaviour. "It's a bit like sexual exploitation - it is underreported," says Pam Hibbert, assistant director of policy at children's charity Barnardo's. "You can't just base it on those convicted as there are many who are not."
What's clear is that the current system for identifying and treating young sex offenders is failing. The latest Safeguarding Children report by the eight government chief inspectors for children and young people's services says access to therapeutic treatment for young people convicted of a sexual offence is limited, particularly for those in custody. The inspectors urged the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the Department of Health and the Youth Justice Board (YJB) to "makethe necessary provision to ensure all children who display, or are convicted of, sexually harmful behaviours are assessed and their needs met".
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