NSPCC refers more abuse cases to police

♦ The NSPCC is passing 90 calls a week to police and social services over concerns a young person has been sexually assaulted.

The figures are up by nearly a third to 4,677 referrals Uk-wide last year from 3,578 in 2015/16. There were also a further 3,912 contacts where helpline staff gave advice about sexual abuse against young people. NSPCC Scotland revealed 265 cases were passed on to authorities in 2016/17, up from 187 in the previous year. There were 167 occasions where staff gave advice after being contacted about sexual abuse involving young people.

The NSPCC said children did not always realise they were being abused, and non-physical offending was occurring through live-streaming.