For many African and Nigerian families raising children in the United Kingdom, conversations about safety, online behaviour, and healthy relationships are becoming increasingly important. Parents in the diaspora often balance cultural values with the realities of growing up in a digital and highly connected society. At Chijos News, we believe it is essential for diaspora communities to stay informed about issues affecting young people in the UK, especially when new research reveals worrying trends about behaviour, safety, and the wellbeing of children in schools and online spaces.
A new evidence report has revealed a concerning rise in sexual offences committed by children in England and Wales, prompting renewed calls for early education, stronger safeguarding, and better support systems to prevent harm before it escalates.
The findings come from the Youth Justice Board (YJB), which has released a detailed evidence and insights pack examining harmful sexual behaviour, misogyny, and violence carried out by children. The report brings together the latest research, data and real-world practice examples from across the youth justice, education, safeguarding and policing sectors.
According to the research, proven sexual offences committed by children increased by 47 percent during 2023–2024, followed by a further 6 percent rise in the most recent year.
However, the Youth Justice Board cautions that the rise does not necessarily mean that children are suddenly becoming more dangerous or violent. Instead, the increase may partly reflect improved reporting, better detection by authorities, and changes in how cases move through the criminal justice system.
Even so, the data highlights an uncomfortable reality: harmful sexual behaviour among young people is becoming a more visible and serious issue across British society.
The report also reveals that many girls are experiencing sexual harassment and image-based abuse within schools and peer relationships. For some young victims, these behaviours have become so common that they are often treated as part of everyday teenage life.
This normalisation of harassment is deeply worrying for experts who say the long-term impact on victims can be severe. Emotional trauma, anxiety and lasting psychological harm are frequently reported by those who experience such abuse at a young age.
Behind the statistics, the report points to a range of complex social factors that influence harmful behaviour among children. Many young people involved in such cases have themselves experienced difficult childhood circumstances including trauma, neglect, abuse or exploitation.
Exposure to misogynistic attitudes online is also identified as a growing influence, particularly as children spend increasing amounts of time on social media and digital platforms.
Stephanie Roberts-Bibby, Chief Executive of the Youth Justice Board, says tackling violence against women and girls must begin early in childhood if society is to prevent harm in the future.
She emphasised that understanding how harmful sexual behaviour and misogynistic attitudes develop during childhood is essential to reducing the number of victims and making communities safer.
At the same time, she stressed that children who display harmful sexual behaviour are still children themselves. Many require support, intervention and guidance rather than purely punitive responses.
For victims who are often children too, the emotional impact can be profound and long-lasting. As a result, the youth justice system must strike a careful balance between protecting victims and helping young offenders change their behaviour.
The report also offers an important message of hope. Evidence shows that most children who display harmful sexual behaviour do not go on to commit sexual offences as adults, particularly when they receive the right support and intervention at an early stage.
This is why prevention is increasingly viewed as the most effective approach.
Educational programmes in schools that teach healthy relationships, respect, and the meaning of consent are proving to be powerful tools in changing attitudes. Initiatives that encourage boys to challenge harmful gender stereotypes and develop the confidence to intervene when witnessing inappropriate behaviour are also showing promising results.
Such programmes aim to create environments where young people feel empowered to stop harmful behaviour before it escalates.
The digital world, however, presents a growing challenge for parents, teachers and youth workers.
According to the report, more than one in four children around 27 percent say they have seen threats or images depicting sexual assault online. Around one third of children report seeing content that encourages violence against women and girls.
These figures highlight the powerful influence of online environments where algorithm-driven content can quickly expose young users to extreme ideas, misogynistic influencers or violent imagery.
The research also reveals that the average age at which children first see pornography is around 13 years old, although some report encountering it much earlier even during primary school.
Early exposure to explicit material can shape how children view relationships, consent and intimacy. Experts warn that it may contribute to behaviours such as coercion, harassment and misunderstanding of boundaries within relationships.
For many parents in the UK diaspora community, these findings may be particularly concerning. Cultural expectations about respect, relationships and family values can sometimes clash with the online environments children encounter daily.
This makes open communication between parents and children more important than ever.
The report highlights the critical role played by trusted adults, including teachers, youth workers, parents and safeguarding professionals—in identifying concerning behaviour early and guiding children towards healthier attitudes.
Adults who notice early warning signs can intervene before behaviours develop into more serious harm.
Despite growing awareness about harmful sexual behaviour among young people, the Youth Justice Board says there are still significant gaps in research across the UK.
In particular, more evidence is needed to determine which prevention programmes and interventions are most effective in stopping harmful behaviour before it escalates.
To address this gap, the Youth Justice Board is calling for further research and evaluation to strengthen the evidence base and support services available across the youth justice system.
The organisation is also working with partners across government, education, healthcare and media sectors to develop coordinated responses aimed at reducing harm and challenging misogynistic attitudes among young people.
The newly released evidence pack forms part of a broader effort to promote what experts call a “Child First” approach within the justice system. This approach recognises that many children who come into contact with the justice system have complex needs and difficult life experiences, while also ensuring that victims remain at the centre of safeguarding responses.
Ultimately, the message from the research is clear. Preventing violence against women and girls cannot begin in adulthood, it must start in childhood through education, awareness and early intervention.
For families across the UK, including those in diaspora communities raising children far from their countries of origin, the findings serve as a reminder that protecting young people requires vigilance, communication and a shared commitment to building a culture of respect and healthy relationships.