Police record 2,634 historic cases of child sex abuse
MORE than 2,600 historic sex offences against children have been recorded by Welsh police forces over the last four years, figures obtained by the NSPCC have revealed.
The number of recorded offences – where the offence is alleged to have occurred more than a year before it was reported to police – has increased from 520 in 2013/14 to 947 in 2016/17.
It comes as survivors of historic sexual abuse are being urged by the NSPCC to come forward and speak out against their abusers.
North Wales Police saw the largest number of offences recorded by police over that time with 1,317, followed by South Wales Police with 690, DyfedPowys Police with 569 and Gwent Police with 58.
Across the UK, more than 60,000 cases of non-recent sexual abuse against children have been recorded by police forces over the last four years
Nationally across the UK the number of reported cases increased from 10,493 in 2013/14 to 20,410 in 2016/17.
The rise in reporting of historic sexual offences against children comes as the NSPCC and South Wales Evening Post work together to raise funds for ChildLine through its festive campaign, Light Up Christmas for Children.
At the moment ChildLine can only answer three in every four young people who reach out for support and advice, something the charity and the Mirror are determined to change.
The children’s charity believes this steep rise may, in part, be down to high-profile abuse cases, as well as the football abuse scandal which began a year ago this week and has seen a dedicated NSPCC helpline receive more than 2,500 calls.
The NSPCC hopes the increase in cases recorded by police will reassure survivors they will be listened to and will see law enforcement taking swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice.
It is also encouraging people who need advice about reporting abuse they suffered in the past to contact its helpline, or if they are under 18 to go to ChildLine.
One survivor who has spoken out is 47-year-old Maria. She was sexually abused and raped by her father at a very young age and still feels the effects of the abuse now.
She said: “I don’t want to have a strong relationship with anyone. I’ve attempted suicide as an adult.
“But I’ve got dreams and ambitions. I’m strong.”
The lastest historic sexual offences figures were obtained following a Freedom of Information request to police forces in England and Wales and British Transport Police. Figures were also provided by the PSNI.