Why does the data matter?

At the centre of all our analysis and research is, without question, victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation. Understanding what is in our data on a qualitative level leads us to a greater understanding of the scale, nature, threat and prevalence of child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) across England and Wales. Our findings are then shared with the forces who submit their data to us and is then used to inform decision making on resource allocation, policy, investigative strategy, officer training and more.

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None of this is possible without robust and consistent recording processes that are in place within each force, third sector and local agency. Accurate recording of data serves not only to show us the intelligence picture, but also enables us to quantify the scale and nature of the threat posed by CSAE offenders. Only once we know who is committing these offences can we begin to ask why. This in turn enables us to conduct spotlight research with the aim of identifying the social and economic factors which contribute to these crimes.

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This insight helps to inform decision making on a strategic level ensuring that effective national strategies are put in place to tackle criminal activity and ensure resource is directed to the most appropriate places.?

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Across 2023 and 2024 the Hydrant Programme used data provided to us by police forces within England and Wales to determine the following:

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·?????? Age/Gender/Ethnicity of victims/survivors and perpetrators

·?????? Locations of offending

·?????? Victim/ suspect relationships

·?????? Scale of offending both regionally and nationally

·?????? Types of offending?

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This list is not exhaustive, there are many more to be included and without the effective capture of data it would not have been possible for us to know this information and subsequently begin to understand the patterns and trends of reported child sexual abuse.

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We live in an ever changing world, and as both criminality and policing evolves it is vital that there are strong processes and methodologies put in place to capture the scale, threat, and nature of offending as accurately as we possibly can.?

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Effective data capture is arguably the only way of painting the bigger picture of offending and informing an effective response.

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In 2022 The Hydrant programme Analysis & Research team were responsible for the creation of the Complex and Organised Child Abuse Database (COCAD). Police forces across England and Wales provide us with their child sexual abuse and exploitation data. This process is under constant review and parameters are often changed to allow us to capture data that will give us further insight into more nuanced areas of criminality.

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The knock-on effect of having this data is not only that we are able to generate our own national reporting, but also that the data we receive assists our partners with their reporting, this includes the NCA, VKPP and College of Policing.

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Over a short period of time, the landscape of offending has changed significantly, particularly within the digital space. We are acutely aware that our response needs to evolve to match this. Data helps us to pinpoint where these changes have been happening, what they are, and what we need to capture to give us a better view.

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The first Group-Based Offending Publication will be shared on Monday 28 October. Keep an eye on LinkedIn and the Hydrant website for updates

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If you would like to learn more about Analysis and Research at The Hydrant Programme, you can visit our website at: https://www.hydrantprogramme.co.uk/our-work/analysis-and-research/