Recorded sexual offences against children have reached an all-time high, data obtained by the NSPCC has revealed.
There were 76,204 recorded offences including rape, grooming and sexual assault against children in the UK in 2018/19 – an average of 1 every 7 minutes.
In Hampshire, the number of recorded sexual offences against children under 18 has increased by 58% over the past 5 years. 1,734 were recorded in 2014/15, compared to 2,748 offences in 2018/19.
Analysis of the data also reveals that where age of victim was provided, 16,773 offences were recorded against children aged 10 and under, with 341 of the offences against babies under the age of 1.
Children who suffered sexual abuse will often need extensive support but overstretched services are failing to keep pace with demand, and the NSPCC is calling for a radical reshaping of how this support is delivered across the country.
A total of 44 out of 45 police forces across the UK provided the NSPCC with the latest data on sexual offences against under 18s after a Freedom of Information request.
Peter Wanless, NSPCC CEO, said:
“Record numbers of child sexual offences means we are facing a nationwide crisis in the help available for tens of thousands of children.
Article continues below this advertisement “These children are bravely disclosing what happened to them but in too many cases there is not enough timely, joined up and child-friendly support. Instead they are shunted from overstretched service to service.
“We need a radical rethink in the way we help these young people, otherwise they could struggle for the rest of their lives with long term, deep seated trauma.”
The charity is calling for the provision of specialised services around the country, with an emphasis on early joined up support from police, local NHS services, children’s services and advocacy for children who have experienced sexual abuse, offered in child-friendly spaces.
Such a partnership service is delivered in The Lighthouse in Camden, where all medical, advocacy, social care, police and therapeutic services are available to children and their families in one place.
This ‘one stop shop’ model connects timely therapy up with the needs of each child, with local NHS services from University College London Hospital and the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trusts delivering in partnership with the NSPCC’s Letting the Future In (LTFI) service.
LTFI provides therapeutic support for children who have been sexually abused. Young people aged 8 to 17-years-old who used the service showed a significant reduction in psychological and behavioural problems.
As with many crimes of a certain nature, it is clear to most that the huge rise in such is NOT coincidental in occurring where many certain type newcomers have chosen to settle in our country.
The media are afraid to link the two, yet even with their kid gloved reporting of such it is obvious to all but the most blinkered.
Thankfully the Island has less than mainland areas yet with huge building programs given permission then that is likely to change for the worse within a few short years.
A disgusting crime and one where the family and community could hardly be blamed for taking the weak law into their own hands despite it being wrong to do so.
Damned snowflake, grow a pair and stop blaming this countries every problem on migrants, it’s people like you that accept no responsibility, who are the true problem.
@Anotherangryvoice
unfortunately for you, az-zahara is correct – large scale immigration, bringing cultures that clash with our own laws, that will inevitably push up crime stats. In some countries the age of consent is lower than the Uk – an example is…an immigrant settling here, would be guilty of unlawful sex, just by living in this country, even though it was legal where they came from.
animals that commit this sort of crime, will never be given any rest in society – they are a burden that needs removing, by whatever means.
No matter who they are, they have to look over their shoulders forever. No such thing as “done the time” when it comes to sexual offences – you are guilty for all eternity, with no forgiveness from society – death is their only escape.
Ah – the self-appointed expert.
The reason there is ‘more’ is that children – even young ones – now have many channels to tell someone if something is wrong.
Schools (meaning the real people in them, not commentators on the outside) are better trained and talk directly to children about what’s private to them, what’s acceptable and so on. It is done far more, far more directly. A consequence of this is that children are far more ready to tell someone. That’s why it’s ‘increasing’.
Quaesitor
sarcastically stating “the self appointed expert” and then going on to give your self appointed expert view is akin to insulting yourself in a mirror.
you should have left the pompous statement off your comment, as it has diluted the impact of what came afterwards.
We are always given the old chestnut that ‘crime has not increased, it is just reported more now ‘. Bull As years ago cars homes on the island were left unlocked. Adults never feared feral youths. And women and children were far safer. Try getting your daughter to walk through a south London park. Think
Not correct i think you will find the most opportunities for perpetrators are are family members or close family friends who have access to the children, i am constantly reminding my daughter of the pants are private rule in order to keep her safe and that there are no secrets between adults and children so that my daughter knows what behaviour is inappropriate, its great that the NSPCC go into schools to begin the dialogue with the children surrounding this subject but it needs to be reinforced at home, also minimising the risk of anything happening to your child remains a parents responsibility, for example those who let just anyone look after their child need’nt be surprise if their child falls victim to abuse as you never really know anyone these days
I would imagine the rise in sex crime on the Island also has a lot to do with Prisoners convicted of such crimes and released, These perpetrators choose to stay on the Island and commit further offences. Once a sexual offender, always a sexual offender
I agree it is the parents responsibility to be aware of the risk, unfortunately, on too many occasions it’s the parents that are the perpetrators.