By Lisa Thomsen, Carleen Thompson, Amanda Robertson, Amanda Bodker, Yolonda Adams, John Rynne and James Ogilvie  

Child sexual abuse (CSA) victimisation has been linked to a greater risk of engaging in juvenile offending broadly, and sexual offending specifically, for male youth. This study used both administrative youth justice data (n=7,800 youth) and clinical information from a specialised service providing interventions to youth who perpetrate sexual offences (n=377 youth) to examine the links between CSA victimisation experiences and sexual offending. CSA victimisation was more prominent among young people who sexually offended than those with non-sexual offences. CSA typically co-occurred with other forms of maltreatment and adverse developmental experiences. Findings highlight the need for early intervention to prevent the emergence of sexual harm.

By STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, Attorney General

The sordid and shameful history of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church spans generations and has affected communities across the globe.  Despite its small size, our state is home to one of the largest Catholic populations per capita in the country, with over 39% of Rhode Islanders—more than any other state—self-identifying as Catholic. Victims of clergy sexual abuse in Rhode Island have come from every community, every ethnic group, and from all economic and social backgrounds. They are our neighbors, friends, and family members.  Generations of Rhode Island victims, their families, and others who have suffered the impacts of this trauma deserve to know the truth of what occurred. 

By His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary 

This spotlight report highlights how police forces and national bodies must work together to make sure forces can meet the demand faced by online child sexual abuse and exploitation teams and management of sexual offenders and violent offenders teams.

We have reviewed the findings related to the work done by these teams from our 2021/22 and 2023–25 police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy inspections, and identified where police forces could further improve, as well as examples of good practice and innovation.

We have identified where police forces could further improve, as well as examples of good practice and innovation. And we have identified opportunities for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, College of Policing and the Home Office to work with forces to improve the system. Our report makes 16 recommendations to support this aim.