Police figures have shown that the number of children committing sexual offences against other children has risen by 78% in three years. The figures were published via a freedom of information request by Barnardo’s for alleged offences reported in England and Wales. The number of offences rose from 5,215 in 2013, to 9,290 in 2016. Over this period there was an average of more than 22 reports every day. In 12 areas, the number of reported offences has more than doubled. The charity has called for action to tackle the growing problem of children sexually harming each other, and is backing calls for a national inquiry to examine the issue and a national strategy to tackle it.
Almost 80% rise in reports of child-on-child sex offences
