The Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse is an organisation founded in 2017 which seeks to improve understanding of and the response to child sexual abuse. Its research shows that far more children are being sexually abused than are currently coming to the attention of professionals.
Statistics from the CSA Centre estimate that half a million children in England and Wales are being sexually abused each year, yet only 2,700 children are on a child protection plan specifically for child sexual abuse and only 103,000 child sexual abuse offences were recorded in England and Wales.
Its latest report finds that children are more likely than adults to be the victims of sexual offences being the victims in 40% of all sexual offences, including rape and assault, yet they make up only 20% of the population of England & Wales. Despite this, the level of child sexual abuse identified by official agencies in 2022/23 remained broadly the same as in the previous year and in some cases was lower.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse published 19 reports on 15 investigations and made recommendations to better protect children in the future. See our previous blog here.
Comment
It is vital that these recommendations are implemented by the Government without delay and that we learn the lessons of the past to protect our children and reduce the horrifying figures listed above.
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Dianne Collins is a Senior Associate in our expert Personal Injury team, which has been ranked in Tier One by the independently researched publication, The Legal 500, and Commended in The Times Best Law Firms 2024. Dianne specialises in accident claims, including child abuse claims, criminal injury compensation claims and public liability claims.
For more information on the subject above, please contact Dianne or another member of the team in Derby, Leicester or Nottingham on 0800 024 1976 or via our online enquiry form.
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