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England and Wales schools see 8,500 sexual offenses against children under 13
An investigation by The Guardian, utilizing freedom of information requests, has revealed that at least 8,500 sexual offenses against children under the age of 13 were recorded in or around schools in England and Wales between 2021 and 2025. This averages to approximately five reported cases per day.
The data includes nearly 2,000 reports of rape or attempted rape. In at least 1,890 of the cases involving children under 13, the alleged perpetrator was identified as a minor under the age of 18. In instances where the victim's sex was documented, girls represented approximately two-thirds of the victims.
Additionally, police recorded 6,140 offenses related to the possession, production, or distribution of sexual images of minors under 18. The investigation also noted at least 2,300 sexual offenses against youths aged 13 to 16. The reported figures may be an undercount, as only 33 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales provided data for the study.
Entities
England · The Guardian · Wales
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] In at least 1,890 of the reported offenses against children under 13, the alleged aggressor was identified as a minor under the age of 18. radionicaragua.com.ni · diarioamanecer.com.mx · www.medlabnews.gr · e-thessalia.gr
- [● 4 SOURCES] The figures include approximately 2,000 reports of rape or attempted rape. radionicaragua.com.ni · diarioamanecer.com.mx · www.medlabnews.gr · e-thessalia.gr
- [● 4 SOURCES] Police recorded at least 8,500 sexual offenses against children under the age of 13 in or around schools in England and Wales between 2021 and 2025. radionicaragua.com.ni · diarioamanecer.com.mx · www.medlabnews.gr · e-thessalia.gr
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Guardian conducted an investigation using freedom of information requests to analyze police data. radionicaragua.com.ni · diarioamanecer.com.mx · www.medlabnews.gr · e-thessalia.gr
- [● 4 SOURCES] There were 6,140 reported offenses related to the possession, production, or distribution of sexual images of minors under 18. radionicaragua.com.ni · diarioamanecer.com.mx · www.medlabnews.gr · e-thessalia.gr
- [● 4 SOURCES] The actual number of offenses may be higher because only 33 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales provided data. radionicaragua.com.ni · diarioamanecer.com.mx · www.medlabnews.gr · e-thessalia.gr
- [● 4 SOURCES] Girls accounted for approximately two-thirds of the victims in cases where the sex of the victim was recorded. radionicaragua.com.ni · diarioamanecer.com.mx · www.medlabnews.gr · e-thessalia.gr
- [● 2 SOURCES] At least 2,300 sexual offenses were recorded against youths aged between 13 and 16 in or around schools. radionicaragua.com.ni · diarioamanecer.com.mx