Startling figures released by the police have revealed a deeply concerning trend in child sexual abuse cases in England and Wales in 2022. More than half of the reported incidents involved individuals aged under 18, with most offences being committed by 14-year-olds, according to the Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme.

The report has sent shockwaves through the nation, revealing a grim reality: there were a staggering 107,000 cases of child sexual abuse reported in 2022, marking a harrowing 7.6% increase from the previous year. Even more alarming is that this number is nearly four times higher than the figure reported a decade ago.

Disturbingly, the report unveiled that one-third of these cases of abuse occurred within family settings, while at least 32% were attributed to online sexual abuse. Although online incidents contributed to the shocking statistic of 52% of child-on-child abuse involving youngsters aged 10 to 18, the report underlines that this “growing and concerning trend” extends to serious sexual assaults, including rape.

Wendy Hart, the deputy director for child sexual abuse at the National Crime Agency, expressed her concern, saying, “With over half of the reported crimes involving child-on-child abuse, there has never been a greater need for education in this space. We know from our collective analysis that the severity of offending has increased, as have the complexities faced by law enforcement in tackling it. The rise of artificial intelligence has also contributed to the problem, as hyper-realistic images and videos of abuse can easily be created and then distributed online.

The report further highlights that approximately 75% of child sexual abuse and exploitation cases are directly linked to offences committed against children. About one in four cases relate to indecent images shared online.

Alarmingly, the most common age for individuals under 18 reported as abusers is just 14 years old.

The surge in online abuse is undoubtedly associated with the proliferation of smartphones and digital devices, highlighting the need for comprehensive education and awareness campaigns surrounding child sexual abuse and the critical importance of safeguarding children from online threats.

The report has sounded an urgent call for law enforcement to address the issue with heightened vigilance, considering the increasing severity and complexity of cases in the digital age.