Child on Child abuse refers to a broad range of behaviours spanning a number of specific safeguarding issues. Its breadth is exemplified by the definition adopted by Dr C. Firmin, University of Bedfordshire:

Physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse, and coercive control, exercised within young people’s relationships.

The following statistics highlight the extent of this issue:

• One in five girls in England suffered physical violence from their boyfriend
• More than four in ten teenage schoolgirls aged between 13 and 17 in England have experienced sexual coercion.
• The rates of violence were higher for girls in England than in other countries.
• Nearly half-48% of girls reported instances of emotional and online abuse from their partners.
• Over a third of young boys in England admitted watching porn and held negative attitudes towards women