Huge increase in sexual offences against children in North Yorkshire – up by nearly 77%

The number of recorded sexual offences against children in North Yorkshire has soared, new figures reveal.

Data obtained by the NSPCC found that offences in the county have increased by 76.7% in four years, between 2014-15 and 2018-19.

Across the UK there were 76,204 recorded offences including rape, grooming and sexual assault against children in the UK in 2018/19 – an average of one every seven minutes.

A total of 9,394 of those offences were recorded by police forces in the Yorkshire & Humber area.

The children’s charity obtained figures from 44 out of 45 police forces across the UK via Freedom Of Information requests.

Nationwide crisis

The chief executive officer of the NSPCC Peter Wanless said:

• Record numbers of child sexual offences means we are facing a nationwide crisis in the help available for tens of thousands of children.

  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 new figures emerged as North Yorkshire Police gave its backing to the NSPCC ‘Talk PANTS’ campaign to help keep children safe from sexual abuse.

It includes a Pantosaurus song, video and activity pack, to help adults find the right words to have a conversation with their youngsters about identifying and avoiding such dangers.

You can find out more here.