Child sexual abuse increases in Sussex over past five years

Sussex Police reported 1,952 sexual offences against children in the year leading up to March 2020, freedom of information requests from the child abuse charity the NSPCC found.

That makes an average of 40 sex offences a week in the county, a rise of 61 per cent compared with the year leading up to March 2015.

Calls to Childline from young people sexually abused by family members had tripled in the UK during coronavirus lockdown as many victims were trapped at home with their abusers.

One 15-year-old girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, told Childline she was “constantly reminded” of sexual abuse from her father.

“My dad touched me sexually when I was younger and now I have to be home all the time with him and I can’t deal with it,” she said.

“Just being in the house with him is so hard. I am constantly reminded of what he did.”

Child sex abuse has increased by 61 per cent over five years, new figures reveal

A 17-year-old girl, who also cannot be identified, told Childline she had been sexually abused during lockdown.

“It started during lockdown. Dad touched me and got me to touch him,” she said.

“Today he came into my room and removed his trousers and asked me to do something to him and I did it.

“I don’t want to live here anymore. I feel I should tell social services about how abusive Dad is, but I don’t feel ready to tell them about the sexual abuse part.”

NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless called for “urgent action” from the Government to prevent child sexual abuse and ensure victims have easy access to support.

NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said the Government needs to do more to prevent child sexual abuse. Photo: NSPCC

“The crisis of child sexual abuse is not going away and behind these figures are thousands of children and young people who have reported crimes that can have a devastating impact on their lives,” he said.

“Urgent action is needed to prevent abuse and to ensure children are supported to recover when they bravely speak out.

“We need concerted leadership to implement strategies on tackling child sexual abuse that put the experiences and needs of children at their heart and are effective in preventing abuse and helping young people recover.”

The charity said it was disappointed the Home Office had not yet published its promised strategy to tackle child sexual abuse. In May the Home Office said it was publish the strategy “shortly” but it has yet to do so.

Childline is available on 0800 1111.