Sexual Abuse

The National Analysis of Police-Recorded Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) Crimes Report (2022) says in 2013, police forces across England and Wales recorded just over 20,000 crimes of child sexual abuse and exploitation. In 2022, they recorded almost 107,000 crimes.

Of the CSAE crimes recorded:

• 73% involved sexual offences committed directly against children;
• around 25% were offences related to indecent images of children;
• 52% involved reports of children (aged 10 to 17) offending against other children;
• 79% of recorded CSAE victims were female and 21% were male.
• the number of recorded incidents of online sexual abuse continues to grow and accounts for at least 32% of CSAE.

We know that the confidence of those working with children is lower when dealing with cases of sexual abuse than when dealing with other forms of abuse, so it’s important that you get regular training and support.  You need to have a good knowledge of online safety as the internet continues to enable the reach of offenders to increase, and new developments in technology create new opportunities for perpetrators to exploit and abuse children.

Everyone working directly or indirectly with children must be able to identify the signs and respond to concerns of child sexual abuse. While this page provides brief information, you should also seek further advice.

Child sexual abuse may involve physical contact (for example, penetration and oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing.

It may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at (or in the production of) sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse.

Child sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children (see our resource page on child-on-child abuse). Abuse can also be committed by adults who are in a position of trust or employed to work with children. It’s important to report all concerns – including low-level concerns.

The effects of sexual abuse in childhood are long lasting and can impact on adolescence and the ability of the individual to form healthy relationships in later life.

Disclosures

A verbal disclosure may not always be forthcoming for several reasons. The lack of a verbal disclosure should not stop you considering the possibility of sexual abuse.

Children can struggle to report abuse; they may have been told they will not be believed, threatened by the perpetrator as part of the grooming process or told that they are to blame for the situation.

In Disclosing child sexual abuse: children and young people’s experiences, NSPCC Learning found children and young people listed various barriers to disclosure including developmental factors, isolation, and a lack of trusted and open relationships. To protect and support young people we must gain their trust and confidence to ensure we respond in an appropriate, effective and sensitive way.

We must know how to spot the signs of sexual abuse but also to understand how to promote opportunities and connections to help create safe spaces for children to disclose.

Children’s and young people’s experiences of disclosure are impacted by trauma, anxiety, and fear about the impact of other people learning about their abuse. Ineffective or insensitive responses can impact the likelihood of children and young people seeking help in the future.

Child sexual abuse is more commonly recognised by chance when someone notices physical signs, a change in behaviour, or a pattern of behaviour which leads them to suspect it.

Remember—children cannot consent to their own abuse.

Promote safeguarding

Create an environment based on equality and informed choice – in an age-appropriate way, help children/young people to think about the issues and attitudes behind sexual abuse particularly regarding consent, gender and other equality issues.

Ensure young people know the risks – explain about privacy, safe touch, and how to recognise sexual abuse in an age-appropriate way.

Check young people have safe relationships – in their family, with other children/young people and with your staff. Create an environment where it is okay to talk, even about the most difficult things.

Know the signs and know what to do – use the checklists above, your safeguarding procedures and be confident to raise sexual abuse as a possibility.

Take action – and keep taking action until you know children and young people are safe.