Two social workers looking at an infographic in a printed briefing document

Infographics

Explore our key data and latest trends in identification and response to child sexual abuse in digestible infographics

Infographic which shows an illustration of an iceberg partially submerged in water. The title says 'Far more children are sexually abused than services identify'. Above the water, the graphic says '2,190 children on a child protection plan due to child sexual abuse (England)', '43,890 children assessed as being at risk of sexual abuse (England)', and '103,550 child sexual abuse offenses recorded by the police (England and Wales)'. Below the water, the graphic says "500,000 children are estimated to experience in-person contact sexual abuse every year'.

We must formally recognise that children represent a significant proportion of victims and ensure their specific needs are met with sufficient and appropriate support.

Children are disproportionately likely to be victims of sexual offences

References: Office for National Statistics, 2025: Sexual offences prevalence and victim characteristics, England and Wales: Year ending March 2025

Concerns of sexual abuse are far less likely to be identified and named than other forms of abuse and neglect

References: Department for Education, Characteristics of Children in need, 2024/25

Where children live matters

Map of England and Wales titled 'Number of child sexual abuse offences recorded by police,' shaded by region using a graduated scale from under 6 to 12+ offences per 1,000 children (darker shading indicating higher rates). Two regions are highlighted with callouts: the North East has the highest rate shown, at 13.2 per 1,000 children, while London has a lower rate, at 4.9 per 1,000 children. Other regions across England and Wales fall at varying points along the scale between these two figures

References: Home Office, Police recorded crime and outcomes 2024/25

Map of England titled 'Children identified at risk of child sexual abuse in local authority assessments,' shaded by region using a graduated purple scale from 2.5+ to 4.5+ per 1,000 children (darker shading indicating higher rates). Two regions are highlighted with callouts: Yorkshire and the Humber has the highest rate shown, at 4.9 per 1,000 children, while the East of England has a lower rate, at 2.6 per 1,000 children. Other regions fall at varying points along the scale between these two figures.

References: Department for Education, Characteristics of children in need 2024/25. Includes assessments recording concerns of child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Child sexual abuse is prevalent across England and Wales but where children live impacts whether that abuse is responded to.

These maps show the average rates within each region; there are wide differences in rates across regions between individual police forces and local authorities.

More child sexual abuse offences are reaching the criminal justice system, but court cases are taking longer to conclude

References: Home Office, Police recorded crime and outcomes 2024/25: Ministry of Justice, 2023 and 2024. FOI request. Ministry of Justice Criminal Justice System Statistics, Outcomes by Offence data tool 2024: Prison population annual data June 2025. Figures give an average between a charge/summons and conclusion at court.

References: Home Office, Police recorded crime and outcomes 2024/25: Ministry of Justice, 2023 and 2024. FOI request. Ministry of Justice Criminal Justice System Statistics, Outcomes by Offence data tool 2024: Prison population annual data June 2025. Figures give an average between a charge/summons and conclusion at court.

What we know about support provision