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Child Abuse Hidden by Online Pace
16 Jul
Summary
- Six in 10 children face sexual abuse in England and Wales.
- Online abuse is evolving rapidly, making it hard to track.
- Support services are missing signs of abuse, falling to a decade low.
A concerning analysis suggests that approximately six in 10 children in England and Wales experience sexual abuse before the age of 18, with girls being twice as likely as boys to be affected. The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) highlights that the fast pace of online offending makes it difficult to accurately estimate the true scale of child sexual abuse.
Experts express alarm that while child sexual abuse is prevalent, the number of child needs assessments identifying it as a concern has dropped to a 10-year low between 2024 and 2025. This indicates a significant gap where children may be suffering abuse without receiving necessary support.
The report, which combines data from various sources, indicates that over 40% of child sexual abuse offenses in England and Wales now have an online component. The CSA advocates for government funding for a dedicated UK survey to better understand the prevalence and nature of child sexual abuse.
