A new report has revealed that nearly 40,000 child-on-child sexual abuse offences were committed in England and Wales throughout 2023.

The analysis, conducted by the Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme (VKPP), examined data from 44 police forces and identified a total of 115,489 crimes linked to child sexual abuse and exploitation.

It is estimated that around 500,000 children are sexually abused each year, with many cases remaining unreported.

Gareth Edwards, director of the VKPP, described the total number of offences as 'horrific and shocking', urging society to confront the reality of these crimes.

The report highlighted that a similar proportion of offenders aged 10 to 17 was observed in 2022, with around a third of child sexual abuse historically committed by children, a figure that has increased.

Of the 75,769 cases where the age of offenders was recorded, 39,049 (52%) involved children aged 10 to 17.

While most victims of child sexual abuse are female, 90% of sextortion victims are boys aged 14 to 17.

The VKPP's 2023 report analyzed 375 cases and found that four out of five offences involving indecent images were related to self-generated content, with a third classified as non-aggravated.

Assistant Chief Constable Becky Riggs indicated that unrestricted internet access has contributed to the rise in young people abusing others.

Snapchat was identified as the most commonly used app for sharing images among young people, followed by Instagram, particularly in blackmail situations.

Riggs emphasized the need for parental controls to safeguard children from harmful online content, stating that technology has significantly changed the landscape of child protection.

Factors influencing child-on-child abuse include peer behavior, home and school environments, and online content, as noted by Gareth Edwards.