Child sexual offences remain ‘close to record levels’, NSPCC figures show

The children’s charity found that 86,962 offences were recorded in 2022/23 by 43 police forces that responded to its Freedom of Information Act request.

This is down on the 87,808 offences recorded the previous year, which was based on information received from 41 forces.

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Types of offences include rape, sexual assault, grooming and exploitations. The highest number of crimes are against children aged between 11 and 15.

The figures have been released amid a promotional campaign by the NSPCC to urge children’s professionals and the public with concerns about a child’s safety to contact its helpline.

Between April 2022 and March 2023, the charity’s helpline dealt with just under 40,000 calls. The main concerns raised were neglect, physical, sexual, domestic, and emotional abuse.

Figures for October 2022 to September 2023, show the helpline handled 8,803 calls about child sexual abuse and exploitation. This is a six per cent increase on figures for the same period the previous year.

“The high numbers of child sexual offences being reported by police forces across the UK are a warning to us all that more must be done to tackle this abuse,” said NSPCC Helpline director Kam Thandi.

“The Helpline deals with concerns about children, no matter how big or small, and we’re encouraging adults to contact us. What is shared could be life-changing for a child experiencing sexual abuse.”

National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) child protection, abuse and investigation lead Ian Critchley warned that the figures of child sexual offences are likely to be far higher as “we know that sadly many victims who have been abused have not yet reported it”.

“We know this is also the case for carers and professionals who may suspect abuse but haven’t yet reported it.”

Meanwhile, an NPCC report on recorded child sexual abuse and exploitation crimes has found that children now account for the largest group of perpetrators of sexual abuse against children.

The report found children aged between 10 and 17 are perpetrators in 52 per cent of cases. The most common age of perpetrators is 14.

The Children Society policy and impact manager Azmina Siddique said the “significant rise in peer-on-peer abuse” is “an alarming trend”.

“Young people, especially under the age of 16, who are victims of abuse often don’t receive the support they need,” she said.  

“It is essential that these children get the right care – including age-appropriate support to perpetrators who are children themselves. It is also critical to have early intervention services, to disrupt coercive and controlling behaviours before it is too late.”