![](https://emergencyservicestimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ESS-Button-resized.png")
For the second year running, policing has seen consistent growth in Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE), with more than 115,000 crimes reported in 2023, a new analysis has revealed.
According to the second National Analysis of Police Recorded Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) Crimes Report 2023, produced by the Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme (VKPP), the number of CSAE crimes has risen significantly in the last ten years.
The report sets out publicly a clear, detailed picture of reported CSAE crimes across England and Wales and has been developed by the Vulnerability Knowledge Practice Programme.
It highlights that around a third of CSAE contact crimes take place within the family environment and more than half of CSAE offences (where the age was known) were committed by children (10-17 years) The statistics show offending ranging from experimental image-based abuse to serious contact offences.
Based on datasets collected from 44 police forces, this national snapshot gives refreshed, enhanced insight and analysis into the scale and nature of reported CSAE, trends in offending, including crime types, and presents profiles of both victims and perpetrators.
Understanding the scale and nature of CSAE, by which we mean the sexual abuse of children, is key to improving responses across policing, law enforcement, government, the charity sector, and partners.
It is known that there is significant under-reporting of these crimes, but policing recognises the value of presenting a known baseline of recorded abuse and harm taking place against children, to inform future understanding.
Becky Riggs, NPCC lead for Child Abuse Protection and Investigation said: “Child sexual abuse and exploitation are horrendous crimes and this analysis helps us all to understand more about the real risks that children face as they grow up in today’s society.”
“Our work to prevent and protect children from the terrible harm of sexual abuse and exploitation never stands still and this report helps police and our partners to develop and improve our prevention, disruption, and investigation of these appalling crimes. Keeping all children safe is our shared mission.
“It’s the victims and survivors of abuse that really matter here. Behind every one of these offences is a child that has suffered harm and that’s something we never lose sight of. Many crimes are not reported or identified, with estimates that 500,000 children are sexually abused every year – a truly shocking number.
“Prioritising prevention is critical. We must stop the CSAE from happening and prevent so many children and young people from enduring the long term harm that abuse brings. At the same time we must give confidence to victims to come forward, safe in the knowledge that they will receive a compassionate and professional response. Policing must continue to relentlessly pursue offenders to justice, whilst not unnecessarily criminalising children engaged in harmful behaviours where appropriate.
“Children deserve to grow up safe in the knowledge that those responsible for protecting them from harm will work relentlessly to prevent abuse, improve outcomes for victims and bring perpetrators to justice.”
To read similar articles, check out our Frontline channel
