An average of sixty sex offences against children were recorded every day by police in England and Wales last year the NSPCC reveals today.

The statistics which were obtained under a Freedom of Information request from all 43 forces in England and Wales, show under-18s were victims of sex crimes, including rape, gross indecency and incest, on 21,618 occasions during 2008-091.

One in seven of the children (3035) were younger than ten and 1,000 were five and under. In more than three out of four cases the offences were committed against 10 to 17-year-olds (17,091)2.

The statistics show girls were six times more likely than boys to be the victims of a sex crime. And the number of incidents where the offender knew the victim was four times higher than those involving strangers.3

The Home Office gathers data from police forces for its annual crime report, which shows there was a total of 51,4884 for all sexual offences in 2008-09, including both adults and children and only splits the figure to show those over or under 13.
Combining these statistics blurs the picture and even though detailed age breakdowns of victims are collected by police they are not passed to the Home Office.
�
This is the second year5 the NSPCC has collected this data and is again calling on the UK Government to publish these details and to clearly link them with the number of convictions and other penalties resulting from the recorded offences. This information could then feed into a national sex abuse prevention strategy as well as helping the development of local services to treat child victims.

NSPCC director of strategy and development Phillip Noyes said: “These figures show just how many children are still being sexually abused every day. It’s a shocking picture – even more so because these are only offences reported to the police. We believe the true extent of the problem is far worse.

“Some of these children are so young they can’t tell anyone what is happening. So it’s vital that adults look out for them and call the NSPCC helpline or contact police and social services if they are concerned.

“Even when they are older some children don’t speak out about the sexual abuse they have suffered because they’re scared they won’t be believed. But help is always available for them through ChildLine.” (0800 1111)

Media office on 020 7825 2533. Out of hours mobile 07976 206 625.

Notes to editors:

1.     The NSPCC asked each police force in England and Wales via a Freedom of Information request. All forces responded. The questions were: 1. How many children (under18) were victims of sex offences committed in your police force area during the year April 2008 – March 2009. 2. Can you supply a gender and exact age breakdown for these victims? 3. What is the relationship of the alleged offender to the victim, if known?

2.     Not all police forces gave a specific age or gender breakdown. Some only gave age ranges.

3.     Nearly two-thirds of the forces (26) provided details about offender relationships.

4.     Source: Home Office Statistical Bulletin, Crime in England and Wales 08/09.

The total number of recorded offences for 2007-08 was 20,758 but one force did not provide any statistics.

Tags: Child Abuse, child protection, Child Safety, ChildLine, nsppc

Watch Marvin from JLS teach children and young people to express their moods through dance on YouTube! It’s all part of the marketing campaign to promote the ChildLine online service, www.childline.org.uk .

As well as these videos, the service is being promoted to online audiences through things like MSN and online virtual worlds. And in the New Year TV advertising will reach out to young people across the UK.

To coincide with the TV advertising all UK schools will receive a mailing pack of ‘how you feelin?’ posters, which encourage children and young people to express how they are feeling and explore the ChildLine website. From mid-January, teaching packs and an assembly presentations will also be available for secondary school teachers to download.

‘How u feeling’ posters and wallet cards can be ordered on FirstStop.

Related Websites

ChildLine website
http://www.charities-direct.co.uk/

http://www.childline.org.uk/Videos/Pages/DanceMoodies2.aspx

Tags: Charities, child protection, Child Safety, Dance, JLS, NSPCC

The NSPCC has had a change of heart over its decision to close its Guernsey operation.

The St Peter Port premises shut on Thursday for the last time with the loss of four full-time staff and a number of part-time support workers.

But the NSPCC says two practitioner staff will continue working on the island.

It said the change of plan recognised the strong representations received from islanders.

The NSPCC’s work in the Bailiwick will also continue through activities such as helplines, training and consultancy

source http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/guernsey/8409865.stm

For more info on the NSPCC visit http://www.charities-direct.co.uk/

Tags: Charities, child protection, Child Safety, NSPCC

By Alex Steger.

Calls to charity helplines to report child abuse are set to drop by up to two thirds over the Christmas period.

This leaves some children at serious risk of harm according to the NSPCC.

On average around 200 people call the charity’s helpline every day out of concern for a child’s welfare. This figure drops significantly over Christmas.

Last Christmas Eve the NSPCC received 128 calls, a figure that dropped to 72 on Christmas Day before rising again to 103 on Boxing Day.

Last Christmas a number of calls were concerned with children being physically, sexually assaulted or being badly neglected. Three calls were serious enough to need immediate police or social services help.

John Cameron, head of the helpline, said: “Some children don’t get a Christmas break from cruelty. It can happen at any time, any day. But people seem reluctant to report cases of abuse and neglect at this time of year, possibly because they see it as a happy occasion and don’t want to spoil it.

“However, this means some children could be left in dangerous situations when help should be on its way. Hopefully this year people will realise that a child’s safety is more important and give us a call. We are here round-the-clock, 365 days a year.”

For more information on NSPCC visit http://www.charities-direct.co.uk/

Tags: Alex Steger, Charities, child protection, Child Safety, NSPCC

Cases of child cruely and neglect reached record levels, new police figures reveal

Sunday December 20,2009

By Lucy Johnston

CASES of child cruelty and neglect have reached record levels, new police figures reveal.

The statistics, drawn from the Home Office crime data base show that cases of child abuse are at their highest since records began.

Between 2008 and 2009 police handled 6,184 – a three-fold increase compared to 2000 and 2001. The figures have been compiled as part of a joint Sunday Express and NSPCC crusade to demand that child neglect becomes a political priority in the run-up to the next general election. Last week the Sunday Express revealed one neglected child is dying every week. We also showed how the same “failures and deficiencies” behind the deaths are being repeated year after year despite a string of high-profile abuse cases, including baby Peter.

Diana Sutton, head of campaigns and public affairs for the NSPCC, said: “The jump in crimes against children should sound a warning bell for politicians. They must make the same commitment to tackling these crimes as they do others.”

For more information on NSPCC visit http://www.charities-direct.co.uk/

Tags: Charities, Child Abuse, child protection, Child Safety, Diana Sutton, NSPCC

TV presenter and singer, Cheryl Baker is calling for people to turn out their pockets, look down the back of their sofas, and make a New Year’s resolution which is as easy as ABC. People of all ages are being asked to take part and encourage family, friends and work colleagues to donate loose change and raise vital funds to help protect vulnerable children.

Cheryl, mother of twin girls and a long term supporter of the NSPCC said: “The NSPCC does such fantastic work for children and families and I’m really pleased to be supporting the ABC Challenge. This is the perfect New Year’s resolution as it’s so easy to do and with the support of your family, friends, or work colleagues, very easy to keep. If we can get as many people as possible in the area taking part, the results could be incredible – every penny really does count and can change a child’s life.”

ABC, ‘Address Book Challenge’, is a simple fundraising idea designed to raise as much money as possible for the NSPCC at very little cost. ABC is a volunteer led initiative championed by Divisional Vice President, David Clark.

Launched this summer to our local fundraising volunteers, ABC works by individuals placing a cardboard collection box in their home and collecting their small change in it until the end of February 2010.

How you can get involved

Colleagues can also take a box and encourage friends and family to do so. Just one email sent to friends and family asking them to join the Challenge could raise a significant sum for the NSPCC for very little effort.

At the end of the Challenge, all people have to do is count the money in the box and send a cheque to the NSPCC, and that’s all there is to it. The boxes cost just 6p to produce and raise an average of £10 per box.

Tags: Address Book Challenge, Charities, Cheryl Baker, child protection, Child Safety, NSPCC, NSPCC ABC Challenge

Celebrity Chef, Tony Tobin is urging runners who are signed up for the Virgin London Marathon 2010 to add extra meaning to their 26.2 miles by raising money for the NSPCC’s Child’s Voice Appeal.

Individuals who have been allocated a place in the main draw for the race have now been notified, and Tony Tobin, who will run the 2010 London Marathon for the NSPCC is appealing for those people to join the charity’s team and fundraise for the NSPCC.

It is hoped that the event will raise near to £1m for the Child’s Voice Appeal, which aims to raise £50 million to maintain and grow the NSPCC’s helplines, text and online counselling services.

Celebrity Chef, Tony Tobin, said: “I am delighted to be part of teamGO for 2010’s London Marathon and fully support the NSPCC’s plans to extend both their vital ChildLine service and their Helpline for adults who are concerned about a child.

“Deciding to set a personal challenge and fundraise is no easy task, however I believe that taking that step and knowing you are doing it to support others certainly drives you forward and makes you determined to achieve your goals. The incentive of being part of teamGO is knowing that the vital funds you raise will benefit vulnerable children and young people and I hope more people will join our team.”

Runners who join the NSPCC London Marathon teamGO will receive a pack which includes:

• Sponsorship forms
• Training advice
• NSPCC running vest
• A chance to meet other team members at a training day
• Regular newsletters
• Dedicated cheering teams around the course to help support their efforts
• Celebrations at our post-race reception and a well-earned massage

Sarah Foster, NSPCC fundraiser, said: “Taking part in the London Marathon is a great event with an incredible atmosphere. Sadly, a third of children who call ChildLine can’t get through to talk to someone. By raising money at this event you will be helping answer many more children’s cries for help so that no voice goes unheard. Please help us by pulling on your trainers, donning your fundraising cap and helping to bring in the pounds for the NSPCC.”

Any runners who are signed up to take part in next year’s London Marathon on 25 April 2010 and would like to find out more about running for the NSPCC, should call Sarah Foster on 020 7825 2621 or email gorunning@nspcc.org.uk

For more info on NSPCC visit http://www.charities-direct.co.uk/charities/nspcc.htm

Tags: Charities, child protection, Child Safety, Gifts For Others (And Yourself!), London Marathon, NSPCC, Tony Tobin

On 18 November around 150 children from primary and secondary schools in Kirklees, West Yorkshire attended an anti-bullying conference at Galpharm Stadium in Huddersfield. The focus of the day was cyber-bullying.

The conference was the idea of young people who take part in the Kirklees Young People’s Forum. They designed the logo for the event and some of the workshops.

The children attended a variety of workshops presented by ChildLine, West Yorkshire Police, Barnardo’s Missing Project and the NSPCC Shield Project and were engaged in a range of activities including drama, making badges and an anti-bullying pledge, creating a collage and a graffitti wall.

The NSPCC Shield Project, which works with children and young people who display sexually harmful behaviour, ran workshops to address bullying by text with the primary school age children and sexting for the secondary school age children.

Workshops were also presented by children from a local primary school and two secondary school students.

What the children had to say about the event

“I liked it a lot. I found it very helpful. Bullying is not a very nice thing.”

“I feel I have learned some important things and I have learned confidence and good manners.”

“It doesn’t matter what race you are, what colour you are or where you’re from – we are all equal. It’s important to share the message about cyber-bullying – it shouldn’t happen to anyone.”

The children will be taking the messages back to their schools – each school will be making its own pledges and repeating some of the other activities.

For more info on NSPCC http://www.charities-direct.co.uk/charities/nspcc.htm

Tags: Barnardo's Missing Project, Bullying, Child Abuse, child protection, ChildLine, Cyber Bullying, NSPCC, NSPCC Shield Project, West Yorkshire Police

The Daily Mail begins a three-week Christmas campaign today to raise awareness of and money for the NSPCC. In the first of a series of stories and case studies, Esther Rantzen movingly describes a night answering the phone at ChildLine. Read the article on the Daily Mail website.

Articles will run in the Female section of the paper and online each Thursday until Christmas Eve. Keep your eye on the Mail over the next three weeks, and spread the word to your family, friends and contacts.

For More Info on the NSPCC http://www.charities-direct.co.uk/charities/nspcc.htm

Tags: campaign, Child Abuse, child protection, ChildLine, Daily Mail, Esther Rantzen, Mail campaign, NSPCC

A new course to give doctors more skills in managing suspected cases of child abuse has been launched by the Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health (RCPCH), the NSPCC and the Advanced Life Support Group (ALSG).

Child Protection in Practice provides specialty trainees with the competencies required for their on-going child protection practice. It will be rolled out to doctors training in paediatrics.

Every paediatrician has to take a recognised child protection course as part of their training. It is hoped that eventually everyone studying paediatrics will undertake the RCPCH, NSPCC and ALSG training course too.

Child Protection in Practice has been designed by the RCPCH, NSPCC and the ALSG. It is an e-learning course and each of the modules is taught using a variety of interactive techniques. There are also facilitated online discussion forums for some topics so that trainees can benefit by sharing experiences not only with peers but with senior colleagues.

This new course builds on the Child Protection Recognition and Response course launched in 2006 and will strengthen the nationwide training standard for all doctors and specialists who work closely with children and young people.

Dr Alistair Thomson, Vice-President, Education, Royal College Paediatrics and Child Health:

“Children in whom abuse is suspected are routinely brought to paediatricians for assessment. The RCPCH aims to educate paediatricians in training to recognise and respond appropriately to possible cases of child abuse. This course will equip paediatricians to diagnose – or exclude – abuse and then work with other team members in the best interests of the child.”

Enid Hendry, NSPCC Director of Training and Consultancy said:

“Great reliance is placed on the skills and judgement of paediatricians to ensure the right decisions are made when child abuse or neglect is suspected. This authoritative new training programme will help them play their critical role with increased confidence and knowledge and help ensure children get better protection.”

For information on the NSPCC http://www.charities-direct.co.uk/

Tags: ALSG, Child Abuse, Child Health, child protection, Child Protection in Practice, Child Protection Recognition and Response, Dr Alistair Thomson, NSPCC, nsppc, RCPCH, Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health