The number of persons found guilty at all courts in England and Wales for offences relating to child pornography of taking, permitting to be taken, distributing, publishing or possession of indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children, from 2003 to 2007 (latest available) is shown in table 1 as follows. It is not possible to separately identify computer based offences from other offences related to indecent photographs.
The number of persons found guilty at all courts in England and Wales for offences relating to child abuse, from 2003 to 2007 is shown in table 2 as follows. There is no specific offence of “child abuse” therefore statistics are only provided where the age of the victim can be identified as a child from the description of the offence. Furthermore the term “child abuse” describes harm caused to a child arising from emotional, physical, sexual abuse or neglect caused by a parent, guardian, carer, or stranger. A number of other offences such as offences against the person including physical assault may frequently be used by the police to charge offenders.
The Sexual Offences Act 2003 significantly modernised and strengthened the laws on sexual offences in England and Wales to provide extra protection to children from sexual exploitation. This makes direct comparisons with previous legislation very difficult. Many new offences created by the Act will not have a direct equivalent under the old legislation. The Sexual Offences Act 2003 came into force on 1 May 2004. Table 2 includes, for 2003 only, comparable offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956.
Court proceedings data for 2008 are planned for publication at the end of November 2009.
Offence Description 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Take, permit to be taken, or to make distribute or publish indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children 1,048 978 958 768 782 Possession of an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child 239 184 196 166 185 1 Offences under the Protection of Children Act 1978, section 1 and section 6 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, section 84 & Criminal Justice & Court Services Act 2000 S.41(1); Offences under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 Sec. 160 as amended by the Criminal Justice & Court Services Act 2000. 2 The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the more severe. 3 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Evidence & Analysis Unit.
Statute Offence description 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 20043 S.5 Causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable person 4— 4— — 2 6 Children and Young Persons Act 1933 S.1 Cruelty or neglect of children 494 540 482 488 493 Offences against the Person Act 1861 S.27 Abandoning children under 2 years 1 — — 2 1 Sexual Offences Act 20035 S.1 Rape of a female aged under 16 6254 275 234 219 236 Sexual Offences Act 20035 S.1 Rape of a male aged under 16 629 28 32 15 23 Sexual Offences Act 20035 S. 5 Rape of a female child under 13 by a male 4— 5 58 85 91 Sexual Offences Act 20035 S. 5 Rape of a male child under 13 by a male 4— 1 14 32 37 Sexual Offences Act 20035 S.75 Sexual assault of a female child under 13 4— 34 174 243 273 Sexual Offences Act 20035 S.8(1)(2)(1)(3), S.10(1a,b,ci)(3), S.9(1a,b,cii)(2)(3), S.10(1,a,b,c(ii)(2)(3) Sexual activity involving a child 4— 20 127 185 190 Sexual Offences Act 20035 S.16(1ei,2-5),(1eii,2-5), S.17(1ei,2-5)(1eii,2-5), S.18(1fi,2-5), S19(1ei,2-5) Abuse of a position of trust: Sexual activity with children 4— 3 14 16 15 Total 778 906 1,135 1,287 1,365 1 The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the more severe. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3 Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 S.5 came into force on 21 March 2005. 4 Not applicable. 5 The Sexual Offences Act 2003 came into force on 1 May 2004. 6 Sexual Offences Act 1956, S.1, as amended by the Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994, S.142—comparable offences to S.1 Sexual Offences Act 2003. Source: Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Evidence & Analysis Unit