Child abuse by other kids

NSPCC says pupils must learn ‘consent’

PEOPLE must “wake up to the fact” that children are sexually abusing other youngsters, the NSPCC warned yesterday.

It said it had counselled dozens of young people “who experienced sexual abuse by a friend, boyfriend or girlfriend, an ex-partner or another young person”.

Spokesman Neil Anderson said: “There is something particularly shocking and disturbing about a child being sexually abused by another young person.

“We have to wake up to the fact that this is happening across the UK thousands of times over each year, with victim and perpetrator at risk of suffering lasting damage.

“Tackling this demands all children are introduced to key learning concepts such as boundaries and consent from primary school onwards.” NSPCC figures revealed last year it carried out 3,004 counselling sessions with young people “who experienced abuse by a friend, boyfriend or girlfriend, an ex-partner or another young person”. It added 41 of these sessions were with young people from Northern Ireland. The NSPCC added: “Some teachers have told us they need more support in how to deal with these situations.

“We are emphasizing the importance of helping teachers to recognise and respond to harmful sexual behaviour.” NSPCC programmes Speak Out Stay Safe and Keeping Safe in primary schools aim to teach children to recognise abuse, to protect themselves and to tell a trusted adult.

Any child worried about peer sexual abuse can call Childline on 0800 11 11.