NSPCC finds 64 child sex crimes a day reported to police

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Police in England and Wales recorded a child sex crime every 20 minutes last year, new NSPCC research reveals today.

Nationally, more than 23,000 offences – including rape, incest and gross indecency – were logged in 2009-10.

Most reports concerned children aged 12-15 years old. However, over 1,000 victims were pre-school age and one in four were aged 11 or under. Girls continue to be around six times more likely to be sexually assaulted than boys, with over 20,000 (86 per cent) female victims recorded.

Latest figures from Greater Manchester Police show that there were 990 known sex offences against young people in 2009-2010 with 152 being aged 5-11 years old. 21 victims were aged four and under.

The figures show, for the first time, the number of young people accused of committing child sex offences. In England and Wales, nearly one-quarter (2,200) of known suspects in these cases were under 18. According to Greater Manchester Police 79 known suspects were under 18.

The NSPCC used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain this data from all 43 police forces in England and Wales - for the third year running. The overall figures show a rise in the number of recorded offences from 20,698 in 2007-08 to 21,618 in 2008-09 and 23,390 in 2009-10.

Home Office figures give no clear picture of how many sex offences are committed every year against children, their ages, gender or whether someone was convicted.

The NSPCC believes this data helps show which children are at most risk and from whom and should allow the UK Government and local authorities to find better ways to protect children.

Jon Brown, NSPCC child sex abuse lead, said: “Thousands of people come forward every year to report sex crimes against children. But many victims are too young to ask for help. Others are too scared to tell anyone about their suffering until years later.

“The overall rise in recorded sex offences against children is a real concern and we need to find ways to help victims and change the behaviour of young offenders.

“Across England and Wales, more than 2,000 suspects in these cases were under 18. It’s clear we need more services that address the harmful sexual behaviour of young people, as well as adult offenders.

"This year the NSPCC is launching two UK-wide programmes to help prevent young people from sexually harming others. A third programme will test different therapies for helping children recover from sex abuse.

“We urge everyone to be vigilant and report any concerns they have about a child.”