NSPCC Child sexual abuse statistics briefing
To help professionals make evidence-based decisions, the NSPCC has published a briefing introducing the data available on child sexual abuse and exploitation. Using a variety of data sources, including research with 2,275 young people aged 11-17, the NSPCC estimates 1 in 20 children in the UK have been sexually abused. It is the only large-scale research study covering the whole of the UK which asked young people rather than their parents or carers.
Key findings from the briefing include:
• Over a third of all police-recorded sexual offences are against children
• Sexual abuse is carried out by peers in approximately a third of cases
• Girls and older children are more likely to experience sexual abuse
• Over 90% of sexually abused children were abused by someone they know
The briefing also notes that the number of police-recorded child sexual offences is increasing.
The briefing describes the types of data available, how it can be used, and what it tells us.