Record rise in child victims

CHILD sex offences rose 15% to a record high last year – with one reported every eight minutes.

A third of the 64,667 cases were committed on children aged under 10, while 2,788 were against kids aged four and under. The NSPCC, which obtained the figures, says it has received 2,500 calls since the football abuse scandal broke. Historical and online abuse reports also doubled.

NSPCC chief Peter Wanless said: “This dramatic rise shows just how extensive child sexual abuse is.”

He added police “were making real progress” investigating sex offences.