Children and young people with harmful sexual behaviours: First analysis of data from a Scottish sample

Abstract

Despite a growing awareness and acknowledgement of the incidence of sexually harmful behaviour by children and young people, research on this group remains limited. A number of recent publications have reviewed UK systems and practice and suggest that the issue is better appreciated than a decade ago. To date, however, there is no published information on this group in a Scottish context. As a first step in addressing this lack of empirical data, a joint exercise was conducted between the Criminal Justice Social Work Development Centre for Scotland and a number of specialist services for children and young people involved in harmful sexual behaviour to develop a picture of this group. Data on 189 such individuals were collected from cases active during 2004. This forms part of an ongoing data collection process, which is intended to provide practice relevant information and contribute to the development of services and interventions for this client group.