Sex crimes against children at all-time high amid ‘nationwide crisis’

Sexual offences are committed against children 15 times every day in Scotland, according to new research.

NSPCC Scotland found there were 5,325 recorded offences including rape, grooming and sexual assault against children in 2018-19.

The UK-wide figure is 76,204 - equating to one offence every seven minutes.

It comes two years after research by the charity suggested access to recovery services was “patchy and fragmented'' despite a greater spotlight with more high-profile cases reaching courts.

Matt Forde, head of NSPCC Scotland, has called on the support system to be improved to deal with the “nationwide crisis''.

He 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."