National Analysis of Police-Recorded Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Crimes Report 2024

Child sexual abuse cases rise as online threats surge – policing steps up response

Two major national reports published today provide the most comprehensive picture yet of child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) recorded by police across England and Wales in 2024. The National Analysis of Police-Recorded CSAE Crimes Report 2024 and the Group-Based Offending Report 2024 highlight both the breadth of CSAE and the unique challenges posed by organised, multi-offender networks.

Read The National Analysis of Police-Recorded CSAE Crimes Report 2024 & watch the short animation

Read the Group-Based Offending Report 2025

Acting Chief Constable Becky Riggs, NPCC Lead for Child Protection and Abuse Investigation, said:

“In recent years, one of the most significant developments in policing is our renewed focus on the power of data. Careful analysis of police-recorded crimes gives us a clearer understanding of the scale, nature, and evolving threat of child sexual abuse and exploitation, including group-based offending.

“Both reports published today highlight the full spectrum of threats—many of which remain largely unseen by the public. They challenge us to ask: are we addressing all areas of risk, not just those that attract political and media attention? And what must we do differently to ensure every child is protected?

 “Tackling CSAE demands a whole-system approach. Police, partners, and communities must work together to prevent harm, pursue offenders, and safeguard children—so they can thrive and grow into the adults they deserve to be.”

Anna Edmundson, Head of Policy at the NSPCC, said: “This new analysis brings into focus the worrying scale of child sexual abuse and exploitation, and the growing threat children are facing online. We must remember that behind each offence is a child, who deserves safety, support, and the chance to rebuild their life after abuse.

“It is vital that we continue to build a detailed picture of when and where these crimes are occurring, who is affected, and how policing and government can respond effectively.

“Alongside improving the data we already collect, we also need to deepen our understanding of how children and young people experience this form of harm. That’s why we want to see Government commission a national prevalence study covering all forms of sexual abuse and exploitation to go beyond police recorded crimes.”

Child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) offences recorded by police in England and Wales have risen sharply over the last 12 months. The data reveals a 6% increase in CSAE crimes in 2024, alongside a surge in online exploitation, which now accounts for 42% of all offences. Senior policing leaders warn that these findings demand a renewed, whole-system approach to protect children from harm.

Key Findings

• Overall scale: 122,768 CSAE offences recorded in 2024 – a 6% increase from 2023.
• Online abuse: CSAE with an online footprint rose by 26%, now representing 42% of all offences.
• Victim & suspect profiles: 78% of all CSAE victims were female; 82% of all CSAE suspects male.
• Child-on-child abuse: 50% of CSAE offences are committed by children aged 10-17 years
• CSA in the family environment – these make up 26% of offences where the relationship with the perpetrator is known.
• Group-based offending: Accounts for 3.6% of all CSAE crimes; familial abuse remains the largest category (32%).
• Within group based contact offences: A newly tracked category of child on child abuse shows that this comprises 25% of all victims and 29% of all suspects.

Police forces across England and Wales are stepping up efforts to tackle CSAE and prevent harm. Over the next 12 months all 43 forces will have access to the Tackling Organised Exploitation Programme (TOEX) Capabilities Environment (CE)—a secure platform providing innovative tools designed to support complex investigations into serious crimes such as group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse.

The CE equips officers and staff with tools that streamline investigative processes, saving valuable time and resources for any policing investigation. Already in use across many forces, some of these tools have been independently evaluated by the Home Office, who found them delivering faster results, reducing investigative delays, and freeing up officers to focus on frontline work and victim support.

Policing leaders have made trauma-informed practice a cornerstone of CSAE investigations. Frontline officers and specialist teams now receive training designed to help them understand the impact of trauma on victims and adapt their approach accordingly. This includes techniques for building trust, reducing re-traumatisation during interviews, and ensuring victims feel supported throughout the criminal justice process. By embedding trauma-informed principles, policing aims to improve outcomes for victims and strengthen confidence in reporting.

This year, the launch of the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection (NCVPP) a partnership between the College of Policing and the NPCC marked a pivotal step in strengthening the policing response to CSAE and wider vulnerability. The NCVPP provides unified expertise, evidence-based guidance and trauma-informed practice to support CPAI teams across all forces. By improving investigative standards, integrating research and data, and enhancing multi agency coordination, the NCVPP will strengthen safeguarding and deliver faster, higher quality investigations. For victims and survivors, this means clearer access to support, a more consistent and accountable justice process, and a system that prioritises their safety and wellbeing helping to rebuild trust and reduce harm.

Both reports published today have the aim of driving further change in policing strategy, developing work already progressing to take a data-driven approach, supporting forces to prioritise accurate recording and analysis to identify patterns and emerging threats. The data we hold emphasises the need for a whole-system response where police, social care, education, and health agencies work together to prevent harm and safeguard children. All this work focuses on victim-centred practice with agencies taking a trauma-informed approach to investigations, improving support for those who have been subjected to the most abhorrent abuse and exploitation.