Sex abuse figures shock

Jan 19 2009 by Sam Wood, The Journal

POLICE in the North recorded more than three sexual offences every day against children last year, new figures have revealed.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) got the information after issuing Freedom of Information requests to every police force in the country.

In total there were 1,180 sex offences against under-18s recorded by police forces in this region in 2008. In the Northumbria force area there were 673 victims, with 241 aged 10 or under, among the highest in the country.

In Durham there were 267 victims, with 56 aged 10 or under. Two victims were aged three.

There were 96 victims in the Cleveland force area, with 18 aged 10 or under.

And Cumbria police recorded 174 victims, with 43 aged 10 or under.

Across the UK there were 20,758 alleged sex crimes involving under-18s reported to officers in England and Wales in 2008.

In almost one in four cases (4,984) the victims were 10 or younger, and more than 800 offences involved children aged four and under. Six times more sex crimes were recorded against girls than against boys.

This is the first time the charity has compiled the figures.

The Home Office’s annual crime report shows there were a total of 53,540 recorded sexual offences of all kinds in 2007-08.

But the NSPCC says official statistics do not provide a clear picture of how many involved children. It is now calling on the Government to collect and publish annual police data showing the number and ages of victims.

The charity also wants these figures to be linked clearly to the number of convictions and other penalties that result from the recorded offences.

NSPCC director of public policy Phillip Noyes said: “These shocking figures reveal just how young many of the reported victims of sex abuse are, with even one-year-olds being at risk, although the highest numbers of offences were against children in their early teens.

“It’s a grim picture but this is only a snapshot, as our research indicates there are many more abused children whose suffering never comes to light.

“If we are able to get these details every year it will start to build a more accurate picture of what is happening and we can make more concerted efforts to protect children.”

Det Chief Insp Paul Young of Northumbria Police, said: “The figures provided for this report are the result of an enhanced reporting structure which is now in place. Police, health and social services departments are working closely with young people to encourage the reporting of these types of incidents and this has led to an increase in the number of reported incidents.

“All incidents are thoroughly investigated by Northumbria Police Public Protection Units which were set up in November 2004. These incidents are dealt with in a highly confidential and sensitive way, with the welfare and safety of the young people being of paramount importance.

“Through these investigations those responsible for many of these incidents have been successfully brought to justice for their actions.”

A Home Office spokeswoman said: “Sexual offences against children are terrible crimes and we are committed to increasing the number of offenders that are caught and brought to justice.”