Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

The sexual abuse and exploitation of children is now definitely out of the shadows. However, the focus continues to be largely on high profile and non-recent cases and too little attention is being paid to the scale of sexual abuse linked to the family environment, peer on peer (ie child on child) sexual abuse and exploitation, differing patterns of abuse relevant to particular communities and the crucial issue of prevention. The evidence of the significance of polyvictimisation is still largely ignored.

Typically, 5% of children with child protection plans have a plan on the grounds of sexual abuse. In most local authorities this equates to fewer than 0.1% of children within that local authority. However, Radford et al (2011) identified that 5% of children in the UK are victims of contact sexual abuse with over 90% being abused by someone they knew. This is supported by the Adverse Childhood Experiences study (2013) in which 6% of adults disclosed retrospectively a history of sexual abuse.

Finkelhor et al (2014) in a study of adults reporting retrospectively found that 26% of females and 5% of males reported being sexually abused as children. Radford considers (private communication) her figures to be conservative. However, at this rate, of the England population of 12 million children, we should expect that 600,000 are or have been victims of sexual abuse and/or exploitation. The Finkelhor evidence suggests that the actual level is very much higher.

The Secure Societies Institute is actively engaging with partners to address the considerable gaps in recognition and action in relation to the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. Prevention is probably the most important and challenging of these issues and the one which we are targeting. We are committed to research that has a positive impact on improving the safety of children and society.

Sue Berelowitz, Visiting Professor at Huddersfield University and former Deputy Children’s Commissioner for England said: “I am honoured to be a member of the SSI Advisory Board and to work with Prof Rachel Armitage and her team on this important matter that affects so many thousands. The scale of sexual abuse and exploitation is truly shocking and too many victims continue to suffer unrecognised. The multidisciplinary expertise and can-do attitude of the SSI will make an invaluable contribution in this troubling field.”