Child Sex Crimes Near UK Schools: 8,500 Cases Recorded, Wales 2026

Key Points

• Police data analyzed by The Guardian revealed at least 8,500 instances of sexual offenses committed against children under the age of 13 at or near schools in England and Wales between 2021 and 2025.
• This includes almost 2,000 incidents of alleged rape and attempted rape, amounting to a daily rape accusation at or near a school.
• In at least 1,890 incidents involving minors under the age of 13, the accused was younger than 18 years old, demonstrating a serious problem of child-on-child abuse.
• Girls made up almost two-thirds of victims whose sex was known.
• There have also been at least 9,100 sexual offenses involving children aged 13 and above at or near schools, along with 6,140 incidents involving indecent images of children.
• Only 33 out of 43 police forces in England and Wales provided their data; therefore, the actual number could be higher.
• The Children’s Commissioner for England Rachel de Souza termed the problem of peer-on-peer abuse in schools as “widespread, normalized, and too often swept under the carpet.”
• Currently, the National Crime Agency receives roughly 1,700 weekly referrals of child sexual abuse, compared to 1,200 in 2020.

Wales (Wales Times) October 07, 2026 – Thousands of sexual offences against children under 13 were recorded at or near schools in England and Wales between 2021 and 2025, averaging nearly five cases a day, according to a Guardian analysis of police data. At least 8,500 offences were recorded, including nearly 2,000 alleged rapes and attempted rapes equivalent to at least one rape allegation at or near a school every day. In at least 1,890 cases involving under‑13 victims, the alleged offender was under 18. Girls accounted for nearly two‑thirds of victims where sex was recorded. Police also logged at least 9,100 sexual offences involving children aged 13 and over at or near schools, alongside 6,140 offences involving the possession, production or distribution of sexualised images of children. The actual scale could be higher, as only 33 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales provided data.

How many child sex crimes were recorded near UK schools?

As reported by journalists at the Guardian and cited by Islam Times, at least 8,500 sexual offences against children aged 13 or under were logged by police at or near schools in England and Wales between 2021 and 2025. This works out to an average of about 4.7 offences per day against children in this age group. Within that total, nearly 2,000 alleged rapes and attempted rapes were recorded over the five‑year period, equating to roughly one rape allegation each day at or near a school.

The Guardian analysis further noted that police recorded at least 9,100 sexual crimes against children aged 13 or over at or near schools, as well as 6,140 offences involving the possession, production or distribution of sexualised images of children. Because only 33 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales provided data, the true scale is likely significantly higher.

What do the figures show about child‑on‑child abuse in schools?

In at least 1,890 cases involving under‑13 victims, the alleged offender was under 18, according to the Guardian analysis referenced by Islam Times and other outlets. This points to a substantial volume of peer‑on‑peer or child‑on‑child sexual abuse occurring in or around school settings. Girls accounted for nearly two‑thirds of victims where sex was recorded, the data showed.

England’s Children’s Commissioner Rachel de Souza described peer‑on‑peer abuse in schools as “widespread, normalized and too often brushed under the carpet”, saying stronger action was needed. Lawyers and campaigners have called for tougher measures, arguing that authorities have long been warned about the problem.

How does this fit into wider child sexual abuse trends in Britain?

The findings come amid wider concerns over child sexual abuse in Britain, with the National Crime Agency receiving around 1,700 referrals involving suspected abuse each week, up from 1,200 in 2020. Arrests of children for sexual offences also reached a record 3,809 in 2024‑25.

The issue has also drawn renewed scrutiny over alleged grooming gangs involving men of Pakistani origin. A June inquiry funded by MP Rupert Lowe claimed at least 250,000 women and girls had been raped by grooming gangs since 2000 and alleged that senior politicians helped perpetrators avoid prosecution. These claims sit alongside longstanding concerns highlighted by previous official inquiries into institutional failures to protect children from sexual exploitation.

What government measures have been introduced to protect children?

The government has strengthened online‑safety rules, expanded sex education and introduced mandatory abuse reporting for professionals working with children, according to reporting by Islam Times summarising official responses. Critics, however, say existing safeguards remain inadequate given the scale of recorded offences and the volume of referrals to the National Crime Agency. Campaigners and some lawmakers have pressed for more robust enforcement, better resourcing for schools and police, and clearer accountability when failures occur.

Background to the development

The Guardian’s analysis of police data between 2021 and 2025 brought together records from 33 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales to quantify sexual offences occurring at or near schools. The resulting figures—covering offences against children under 13, older children, and image‑based crimes—were published in early October 2026 and quickly cited by multiple outlets including Islam Times, Big News Network and Ground News. The data fed into broader debates about safeguarding in education, peer‑on‑peer abuse, and the resourcing of child protection services, while also intersecting with ongoing political discussions about grooming gangs and historical failures in prosecution.

Prediction: how this development can affect parents, schools and policymakers

The publication of these figures is likely to increase pressure on schools to strengthen safeguarding policies, improve staff training on recognising and reporting abuse, and enhance support for victims. Parents may respond by seeking more detailed information from schools about safety measures, reporting mechanisms and pastoral care, while some may push for greater oversight through governors and local authorities. For policymakers, the data could prompt reviews of mandatory reporting duties, funding for child protection teams, and the implementation of online‑safety rules within school environments. If referrals and recorded offences continue to rise, there may also be calls for more specialised investigative resources and clearer national standards for handling child‑on‑child sexual abuse in educational settings.