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Hello
Two major national reports published in December provided the most comprehensive picture yet of child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) recorded by police across England and Wales.
These new analyses bring into focus the worrying scale of CSAE and the growing threat children are facing online. The data reveals a 6% increase in CSAE crimes (in 2024), alongside a surge in online exploitation, which now accounts for 42% of all offences. 50% of CSAE offences are committed by children aged 10-17 years.
I was shocked to hear during one of my recent Performance and Accountability Meetings with Sussex Police chief officers, that children as young as 11 years old have been involved in ‘non-contact offences’ - relating to taking, making or distributing indecent images.
Here in Sussex, a project delivering specialist interventions on CSAE and online safety is pioneering a new approach to how agencies respond to young people suspected of offences involving child sexual abuse material.
Where previously a criminal justice approach would have been taken, I have partnered with two charities to deliver bespoke interventions that educate children about online dangers and ensure they have access to support.
Project SOLAH (Safer Online at Home), which is funded by my Office, is delivered by children’s charity Barnardo’s and YMCA DownsLink Group, across Sussex.
Through Project SOLAH, specially trained case workers conduct face-to-face interventions with the child. The content of these sessions varies based on engagement and complexity and may cover tools to help the child understand the risks that the online space can present, guidance on what content is illegal, the law and the consequences of breaking it.
The practitioners also support young people to manage peer pressure and help build their confidence to talk openly about their online activity.
Between April – December 2025, 63 children were referred to Project SOLAH by Sussex Police’s Online Child Abuse Team (OCAT). OCAT subsequently monitor the cases that have been referred to see if children come to notice again. So far, no repeat referrals have thankfully been made.
Feedback from the children and families who have been supported through Project SOLAH show that children are more aware and better equipped to deal with online issues and feel confident to raise concerns appropriately.
Project SOLAH is vital because it tackles harmful behaviours at the earliest possible stage, before they escalate into serious, prolific offending. By educating young people and supporting families, we are not only protecting children from exploitation but also breaking the cycle of harm. This proactive, partnership-led approach is exactly what Sussex needs to keep our communities safer online and in real life.
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