The Youth Justice Board (YJB) has published a new Evidence and Insights Pack (EIP) bringing together and examining the latest research, data and practical examples on harmful sexual behaviour (HSB), misogyny and violence carried out by children. It examines the drivers of crime, the overlap between victimisation and offending, and the interventions with the strongest evidence of impact.
Details
The YJB has summarised relevant facts and data on HSB, misogyny and violence carried out by children. It highlights the complex factors that shape harmful sexual behaviour among children, including childhood trauma, exposure to misogynistic attitudes online, peer dynamics, and wider social influences.
The EIP identifies gaps in the available data on these issues and the areas where further research is needed to understand:
- how factors such as age, gender, social context, ethnicity, disability, protected characteristics or sexuality shape the relationship between misogyny and violence;
- how algorithmic exposure to misogynistic/sexual content translates into offline abuse;
- how the antisocial pathway operates for under-18s;
- the unevenness of data across England and Wales, which is rarely disaggregated by country.
The EIP also synthesises the evidence available on what works in preventing and reducing misogynistic attitudes and HSB, and promotes pro-social behaviours and positive outcomes for children, including:
- early prevention of harm;
- victim awareness and education for children;
- a sense of belonging for children;
- bespoke education and sexual violence interventions for children.
Commentary
The EIP is an important resource for youth justice practitioners. It highlights that many children who carry out violence and exploitation are themselves victims of domestic violence, neglect, and physical or sexual abuse. The factors that youth justice practitioners should be aware of include:
- children’s social, emotional and cognitive development is important to understanding why children are committing these crimes;
- trusted adults, including practitioners, play a critical role in identifying concerning behaviours early and youth justice services are valued because they give more personalised support;
- children need to feel believed and that they have a say in decisions about them.
Overall, the EIP highlights that HSB, misogyny and violence carried out by children are multifaceted issues that require early, child‑centred and trauma‑informed responses. While current data has significant gaps, the available evidence makes clear that early intervention, education, strong safeguarding practices and supportive, trusted relationships are critical to preventing harm and improving outcomes.