How Big is the Problem?
Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a silent epidemic—hidden, underreported, and devastating in its impact. Wales, like the rest of the UK, has seen a rise in reported cases, but does this mean CSA is increasing, or are more survivors simply coming forward?
This investigation cuts through the noise, looking at the real numbers, the factors influencing reporting, and the failures and improvements in safeguarding children across Wales.
The Hard Facts: What Do the Numbers Say?
While exact figures on CSA remain difficult to determine due to widespread underreporting, what we do know is alarming:
- 7.5% of adults in the UK report experiencing childhood sexual abuse—equivalent to 3.1 million people.
- Over 100,000 child sexual abuse offences are recorded annually by police in England & Wales.
- One in three recorded sexual offences involves a child victim.
Wales: A Regional Perspective
- Dyfed-Powys reported 192 CSA image-related offences in one year—the lowest among Wales’ four police forces.
- CSA-related offences per 100,000 people:
- Gwent Police: 84 (Highest in Wales)
- North Wales Police: 76
- South Wales Police: 74
- Dyfed-Powys Police: 37 (Lowest)
- Between 2018-2023, Wales recorded:
- 13 under-18 offenders sentenced for CSA-related crimes.
- 61 allegations of sexual assault against children under 10.
- 20 child rapes in North Wales—more than triple Dyfed-Powys’ numbers.
Why CSA Appears Higher in Wales: The Bigger Picture
Wales has seen a significant rise in CSA cases being reported—but this does not necessarily mean the crime itself has increased. Several key factors explain this surge:
More Victims Are Coming Forward
- High-profile CSA cases have encouraged survivors to speak out.
- Operation Soteria Bluestone has increased police focus on CSA detection and survivor support.
Historical Abuse Cases Are Surfacing
- Investigations into long-standing institutional abuse, such as the Caldey Island scandal, have inflated CSA statistics.
- Many cases date back decades but only now appear in official crime data.
Online Grooming & Digital Exploitation Are Surging
- More than half of CSA cases now involve online contact between offenders and victims.
- In one year alone, over 17,500 online grooming offences were recorded in the UK—a 40% increase in five years.
Rural Policing Challenges
- Wales has large, rural areas, making detecting and preventing CSA harder than in cities.
- Victims in remote communities often struggle to access support services—leading to delayed reporting.
Myth vs. Reality: Are Sex Offenders Being Moved to Wales?
A common public concern is that convicted sex offenders are relocated to Wales—particularly rural areas like Pembrokeshire.
The Facts Say Otherwise:
- No evidence exists to suggest that offenders are deliberately moved to Wales.
- The number of registered sex offenders per 100,000 people in Dyfed-Powys is in line with national averages.
- MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements) manages offenders nationally—not regionally.
What is really happening? Increased public awareness, exposure teams, and community-driven protests have made CSA cases more visible in Wales—but this does not mean the region is a dumping ground for sex offenders.
High-Profile CSA Cases in Wales
Public perception of CSA in Wales has been heavily shaped by major cases, including:
The Caldey Island Abuse Scandal
- Over 30 years of child sexual abuse was covered up in a monastic community.
- Victims came forward decades later, exposing failures in church safeguarding.
The Lewis Edwards Snapchat Grooming Case
- A Bridgend police officer groomed over 200 underage girls online.
- He admitted to 160 CSA-related offences, including blackmailing victims into sending explicit images.
Public Protests Against Offenders
- Milford Haven (2024): 70 people protested the release of a convicted sex offender.
- Burton (2025): 40 residents protested the bail of a man accused of abusing a baby.
These cases—and the media attention around them—fuel public fear, but the reality is more complex than headlines suggest.
The Fight Against CSA in Wales: What’s Being Done?
Law Enforcement Crackdowns
- Operation Soteria Bluestone: A police-led initiative to improve CSA investigations.
- Increased digital surveillance: Grooming gangs, online predators, and CSA material distributors are under more scrutiny than ever.
Stricter Sentencing & Offender Monitoring
- MAPPA supervision of convicted sex offenders has expanded.
- Wales has one of the highest rates of refusal for offenders requesting removal from the sex offender registry.
Public Awareness & Exposure Teams
- Groups like Dank Dragon, Predator Awareness and other predator-hunting teams are bringing more offenders to public attention.
- More victims are empowered to speak out due to community-driven action.
What Needs to Change?
Despite progress, gaps remain in tackling CSA in Wales. Key recommendations include:
- More specialist CSA support services in rural areas.
- Greater police resources for online predator tracking.
- Better education for parents and children on online grooming.
- Harsher sentences for repeat CSA offenders.
The Bottom Line: A Reality Check
- CSA in Wales is not higher than the rest of the UK—but it is more visible.
- Better reporting, hi8storic case reviews, and media attention make CSA seem more prevalent than statistics indicate.
- The biggest challenges remain online exploitation, rural policing difficulties, and access to survivor support.
Resources & Reporting CSA
If you suspect CSA or need support, contact the following organisations:
- NSPCC: 0808 800 5000 | www.nspcc.org.uk
- NAPAC (Adult Survivors of CSA): 0808 801 0331 | www.napac.org.uk
- Childline (Under 18s): 0800 1111 | www.childline.org.uk
- CEOP (Online CSA Reporting): www.ceop.police.uk
The Grooming Files 
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