The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary shared a Freedom of Information response on February 11, 2026, detailing grooming incidents across Portsmouth, Hampshire. This report covers the two-year period ending in December 2025 and shows that online platforms are the most common way for offenders to target local children. These digital threats often come from people outside the local area who use social media to reach youth living within the city.
The statistics follow a major local case in October 2025 where a man was charged after an incident at Cosham train station. This release also comes as a National Analysis of CSAE Crimes suggests a significant rise in digital exploitation cases across the United Kingdom. The data includes details on how many reports the police received and how long it took for officers to respond to those concerns.
The police have responded to the findings by highlighting their current safety measures and a recent investigation that led to a 15-year jail sentence for a local offender in January 2026. The Portsmouth City Council is also being asked by community groups to support broader safety awareness campaigns for families. This new information helps residents understand the current risks and provides a way to track how local authorities are handling child protection.
