Child sexual abuse in custodial institutions: a rapid evidence assessment

Child sexual abuse (CSA) involves forcing or enticing a child or young person under the age of 18 to take part in sexual activities. It includes contact and non-contact abuse, child sexual exploitation (CSE) and grooming a child in preparation for abuse. As part of its work the Inquiry is undertaking an investigation into the extent of any institutional failures to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation while in custodial institutions. The investigation will consider the nature and scale of child sexual abuse within the youth secure estate in addition to institutional responses to the sexual abuse of children in the youth secure estate. The rapid evidence assessment (REA) has been carried out to inform the investigation by reviewing the existing research evidence base. The REA explores the following: • Evidence related to the prevalence of child sexual abuse in custodial institutions; • Socio-demographic characteristics, both of victims and perpetrators; • The factors associated with failure to protect or act to protect children in the care of custodial institutions; • The nature of the safeguarding systems in place and how they have changed over the years; • Recommendations in the literature regarding how those systems may be improved to better protect children in custody from sexual abuse