Overview
- Kent Police, in data released Monday via freedom of information, recorded 683 children aged nine or under since 2023, including a one‑year‑old flagged after another child suffered a minor injury.
- North Yorkshire Police figures show incidents involving under‑10s rose from 139 in 2023 to 263 in 2025, with violence against the person the largest category across the period.
- Children under 10 cannot be charged in England and Wales because they are below the age of criminal responsibility, yet Home Office rules require police to log reported incidents and schools must refer serious sexual allegations to officers.
- Forces say they focus on prevention and support, with Kent’s child‑centred teams and Violence Reduction Unit using education and diversion, and North Yorkshire deploying Schools Liaison Officers and the Crucial Crew safety program for pupils.
- Kent’s dataset notes 130 sexual offences involving children under nine and that boys made up 76% of those linked to reports, while North Yorkshire hotspots included Scarborough and Ryedale, and a Kent council leader pointed to county lines gangs targeting vulnerable children.