Sexual communication with a child 571/2025

FOI Reference: 571/2025

Request:

I would like to request the below information under the Freedom of Information Act:

1. Please tell me the number of recorded offences under s.15A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, sexual communication with a child, (Home Office recording code 71/17) recorded from (and including) April 1st 2024 until (and including) March 31st, 2025. 
2. Where possible I would like to know the age and gender of the victim, broken down into age groups: 11 and under, 12-15, 16 and over. 
3. Please tell me the age and gender of the youngest victim. 
4. Where possible I would like to know the total number of perpetrators linked to these offences. 
5. Please tell me all the forms of communication (i.e. which social media or messaging platform such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Kik, TikTok etc.) that have been recorded as having been used in connection with recorded offences under s.15A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, sexual communication with a child, from (and including) April 1st 2024 , until (and including) March 31st 2025. 
6. How many offences, where the means of communication was known, took place on private messaging services? 

Where the number of victims is greater than zero but fewer than five, please use a * if necessary, rather than rejecting my request on the grounds of protecting personal information.

Response:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:

Please note:  In respect of the data provided above the following points are applicable.

*There are 16 cases where victim age and gender has not been recorded as some victims are recorded as ‘Unknown’ or it may be ‘Crimes Against the State DPP’.

*There is also a case where there are multiple victims for one crime.

*There are 37 cases where there is no recorded perpetrator linked to the offence.                                                         

It should be noted that owing to the systems adopted by Dyfed-Powys Police in relation to the recording of such matters the information provided may or may not be accurate. Police Forces in the United Kingdom are routinely required to provide crime statistics to government bodies and the recoding criteria is set nationally.  However, the systems used for recording these figures are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data.  It should be noted that for these reasons this Force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other response you may receive.           

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 16/06/2025)