Supporting child protection
and abuse investigation
View our Group-Based Offending publication
Child Sexual Exploitation Taskforce shines light on Group-Based Offending
Today (Thursday 21 November 2024) the Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Taskforce have published a new report which sets out publicly a clear, detailed picture of police recorded group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation crimes across England and Wales in 2023.
Based on data collected from 44 police forces, this national snapshot in time gives insight, analysis and commentary on the scale, nature and threat of group-based Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE), including crime types and where offences were committed. There is also demographic information on who the victims and suspects of these crimes are.
The analysis shows that 26% of group-based offending takes place within the family environment and that 48% of suspects, where age is known, were between 10-17 years old.
About the
Hydrant Programme
The Hydrant Programme is a national policing programme supporting the work of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Child Protection and Abuse Investigation Working Group. Originally established in 2014 to coordinate the response to non-recent child sexual abuse, but now supporting forces across all child protection and abuse investigation issues.
Hydrant develops policy and strategy on behalf of the NPCC, develops and delivers best practice advice including a learning, review and improvement function, provides a strategic analysis capability and partnership engagement with key stakeholders and partners.
What we offer
A Peer Review, Peer Support, CPD and Debrief function working across all elements of child abuse and child protection, which forces can access at no cost.
A Partnership Hub which supports key stakeholders and organisations with operational child protection and safeguarding issues.
An Analysis and Research Team who work in collaboration with the Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme and the National Crime Agency to enhance understanding of the prevalence of child sexual abuse and exploitation and the risk and harm it presents. The aim of this is to address identified gaps in policing’s national capability highlighted by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and others.
A Communications Team with the ability to coordinate issues of national operational criticality within the vulnerability portfolio when this is appropriate, for example policing’s response to incidents like the Everyone’s Invited movement and the football abuse scandal.
News & events
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16th Jun 2025
CSE Taskforce responds to National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and AbuseNPCC responds to National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
The National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse been published today.
Director of the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Helen Millichap, has commented.
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30th May 2025
International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute (IPPPRI) Online Harms conference reflectionsDuring the week starting Monday 19 May members of the Hydrant team, alongside colleagues from NAPAC travelled to the International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute (IPPPRI) Online Harms conference.
The three days were jam packed with inspiring presentations from policing, the third sector and the private sector- all sharing best practice and knowledge to enhance the global response to tackling online child sexual abuse.
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30th May 2025
Mental Health Awareness Week 2025As Mental Health Awareness Week begins to draw to a close, we have something special to share. A member of the Hydrant team has shared their raw and honest experience of living with anxiety.
This blog speaks about anxiety and panic attacks, so please take care when reading it. There are links to websites at the end who can help if you feel affected by the topics covered.
We hope that by sharing such a personal account of life with anxiety, that others feel less alone in their experiences, and see that there is help available and light at the end of the tunnel.
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16th Jun 2025
CSE Taskforce responds to National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and AbuseNPCC responds to National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
The National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse been published today.
Director of the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Helen Millichap, has commented.
-
30th May 2025
International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute (IPPPRI) Online Harms conference reflectionsDuring the week starting Monday 19 May members of the Hydrant team, alongside colleagues from NAPAC travelled to the International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute (IPPPRI) Online Harms conference.
The three days were jam packed with inspiring presentations from policing, the third sector and the private sector- all sharing best practice and knowledge to enhance the global response to tackling online child sexual abuse.
-
30th May 2025
Mental Health Awareness Week 2025As Mental Health Awareness Week begins to draw to a close, we have something special to share. A member of the Hydrant team has shared their raw and honest experience of living with anxiety.
This blog speaks about anxiety and panic attacks, so please take care when reading it. There are links to websites at the end who can help if you feel affected by the topics covered.
We hope that by sharing such a personal account of life with anxiety, that others feel less alone in their experiences, and see that there is help available and light at the end of the tunnel.
