Child Sex Offences At 10-Year High

The number of sexual offences against children in Scotland has reached a 10-year high, according to a charity.

The NSPCC said the number of recorded offences against under-18s, including rape, sexual assault and grooming, hit a peak of 3,742 in 2013-14.

Meanwhile, the charity said its helpline had seen a 19% rise in calls from adults worried that a child was being sexually abused.

The helpline took 407 calls in 2014-15, up from 341 in 2013-14.

Half of the calls, 203, were so serious that the NSPCC referred the information on to the police or children's services for immediate action.

The figures were revealed today as the NSPCC launches its third How Safe Are Our Children? report, measuring the extent and nature of child abuse across the UK.

The charity said it is not clear why the number of offences has risen, but it is possible that greater awareness of sexual abuse may be giving more victims the courage to come forward, including those reporting historical cases. Police may also have improved their recording methods.

But the NSPCC said that, as more children speak out, the Scottish legal system needs to develop a more sensitive and effective response to ensuring justice is served''.

Matt Forde, NSPCC Scotland's head of national services said: The nation has been horrified by the revelations of decades of horrendous child abuse. But while the Scottish Government's inquiry is historical, child abuse is not.

For too many children, our court system adds further trauma to their earlier experiences of abuse. We need a bold approach to reform our legal system. By borrowing from Scandinavian models, we can free children from further suffering and allow the therapeutic support they need to begin more quickly.''