NSPCC calls for action on child sex abuse

The NSPCC is calling for action to drastically reduce the number of sexual assaults on children after new figures revealed there were more than 400 offences reported to police every week during 2010/11, with fewer than one in ten resulting in a conviction.

In South Yorkshire, 144 of 453 victims had yet to reach secondary school age and 44 were five or under.

There were 309 offences against against 11- to 17-year-olds reported.

Nationally, 4,973 out of 23,097 victims were younger than secondary school, with almost 1,500 aged five or under.

The figures, cover various sex crimes, including rape, incest and abuse of children through prostitution and pornography.

They reveal that more than one in three of all sex crimes are committed against children, with girls being victims on six times as many occasions as boys.

Despite the number of convictions rising by around a quarter from 1,747 in 2007 to 2,135 in 2010, fewer than a tenth of all offences result in someone being sentenced.

The NSPCC is now calling for schools and parents to educate children about staying safe and reporting abuse and the Government to support the provision of therapeutic services for all child victims of sexual offences and treatment programmes for offenders.

It also wants the public to be aware of abuse and how to prevent it.

If adults have concerns about a child they should immediately contact social services, police or call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 where trained counsellors are on call 24 hours a day.

Children should contact ChildLine on 0800 1111.