NSPCC report shows a shocking increase in reporting of child sexual offences to the police

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Child Protection, Chief Constable Simon Bailey said:

“The figures collated by the NSPCC on child sexual offences reported to police are another reminder of the shocking scale of child sexual abuse.

“Changes in police recording and victims’ improved confidence in how the police will deal with abuse have played a significant part in the increase in reports to us.   But I am now starting work with academics to consider whether more children are actually being abused.  The internet has opened up new opportunities for abusers to groom children, view indecent images and watch and direct live sexual abuse of children and we need to understand the impact of this.

“Police have improved our response to sexual abuse and every single day we are safeguarding children at risk, investigating offences and bringing abusers to court, however, by the time the report comes to us the damage is done so colleagues working in social care, education and health need work together to stop abuse before it happens.  Police work will continue but we ask everyone to help us by being alert to signs of abuse and sharing any concerns however small they may seem.”