Archive · 11 Dec 2025
UK Report: 42% of Child Abuse Cases Have Online Elements
A new report from British police looked at almost 123,000 cases of child sexual abuse in England and Wales in 2024.
They found that 42% of these crimes had something to do with the internet, which is a big increase from last year.
This includes things like children being tricked into sharing pictures or being forced to do bad things online.
The police say that while there is a lot of talk about 'grooming gangs,' most abuse happens with people the children know.
They want technology companies to do more to protect kids online.
Most crimes still involve physical contact, but online abuse is growing fast.
A report examined 123,000 child sexual abuse cases in England and Wales in 2024, showing a 6% increase from the previous year.
42% of these crimes had an online element, a 26% increase from 2023, including manipulation, extortion, and live-streaming.
Investigators urge technology companies to enhance protections to prevent children from accessing harmful material and to stop offenders from using their platforms.
Two-thirds of recorded cases involved physical contact, with only 3.6% categorized as group-based contact offending.
Less than one-fifth of group-based cases were carried out by what police define as 'grooming gangs.'
- Who
- British police and investigators
- What
- A report on child sexual abuse and exploitation crimes in England and Wales in 2024
- When
- 2024
- Where
- England and Wales
- Why
- To highlight the growing threat of online child sexual abuse and the need for stronger protections
- Total Crimes Examined
- 123,000
- Yearly Increase
- 6%
- Online Element in Crimes
- 42%
- Increase in Online Crimes
- 26%
- Physical Contact Cases
- Two-thirds
- Group-Based Contact Offending
- 3.6%
- Grooming Gangs in Group-Based Cases
- Less than one-fifth