New report shows child victims of crime are higher than previously indicated

A report commissioned by All Party Parliamentary Group for Victims and Witnesses of Crime, chaired by the Member of Parliament for Rotherham, Sarah Champion, along with Victim Support, has said that children need lessons in understanding what crime is, how they can protect against being a victim of crime, and what to do if they become a victim. The report paints a shocking picture that shows children and young people experience much higher rates of crime than police data suggests. For instance, the report finds that 85% of children do not report thefts to the police. Similarly, between 87% and 95% of children experiencing child sexual abuse do not report it to an adult at the time.

To read more about the University of Bedfordshire research, click here