Child sexual offence suspects working in early years settings

Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FIN/26/004452/C

Version Date: 09/04/2026

The Performance Analysis Department has provided the following information:

Searches were completed in Niche for all sexual offences within the main crime groups that have the following keywords within the suspect’s occupation:

• Nursery assistant
• Nursery practitioner
• Early years practitioner
• Childcare worker
• Nursery teacher

Please note the following:

• The occupation field within Niche is not mandatory and the returned data is solely based on the occupation details being completed. 
• Just because their occupation is a nursey worker, it does not mean that the offence was committed at work.

I would like to request information for the financial years 2021 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 - 2024, 2024 - 2025, 2025 - 2026:
1.         The number of individuals arrested or charged with a child sexual offence where the occupation recorded by police was listed as working in an early years childcare setting. This could include occupations recorded as:
o          nursery worker
o          nursery assistant
o          nursery practitioner
o          early years practitioner
o          childcare worker
o          nursery teacher
o          or similar early years childcare roles.

7 individuals arrested. Out of the 7, 1 suspect was charged.

2. If available, the number of these individuals who were subsequently convicted.

No information held. The Force does not hold data regarding convictions.

This information will be held by His Majesty’s Courts & Tribunal Service. Please see following link on how to submit an FOI to them https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-courts-and-tribunals-service (please scroll down to the bottom of the webpage).

3. If available, a year-by-year breakdown of the figures above.
   Please provide the information in aggregate statistical form only. I am not requesting any personal data or identifying information.
   If the specific occupation categories above cannot be isolated, please provide any equivalent occupation category used by your force’s recording system relating to early years childcare or nursery work.