The Fiscalía General del Estado presented its Apertura del Año Judicial 2026 in Madrid, the Memoria 2025 . The annual report records an increase in criminal proceedings concerning serious offences against children. The rise was particularly marked in Delitos contra la libertad sexual, which also Menores are affected. In this context, the prosecutor’s office points to increased investigative activity and calls for closer coordination between the justice system, police authorities and child protection services, as well as additional digital and forensic resources for investigative units.
The INE and the Instituto Nacional de Estadística also published updated 2025 data on Población condenada. These statistics show a slight fall in the overall number of convicted minors, while convictions in sexual offence categories increased. The overall number of convictions recorded for Delitos contra la libertad sexual, involving both adults and minors, also rose. Specialist bodies interpret these official figures as indicating a greater role for changing forms of offending with a digital component, such as cyber-grooming, the distribution of visual evidence or the use of manipulated content. At the same time, specialist recording by investigative and analytical units has increased, and reporting and notification are believed to have become more common.
The Memoria 2025 and INE data thus support the statement that 2025 saw a noticeable increase in investigations and registered decisions in this area. At the same time, the Fiscalía is cautious in its assessment: it warns against hasty conclusions about a long-term trend and stresses the need for prevention, additional resources and international cooperation in accessing platform-related data.
It is important to note that different statistical systems use different counting methods and definitions. Prosecutors’ offices record the number of proceedings initiated, while the Instituto Nacional de Estadística counts final convictions and the Registro Central de Sentencias de Responsabilidad Penal del Menores analyses decisions in juvenile cases. Claims about causes therefore remain attributions; the official documents identify areas for action but do not prove any single cause. Regardless, the official documents available present a consistent picture of increased investigative and judicial activity in Spain, particularly in Delitos contra la libertad sexual involving Menores.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).