"1 in 20 children experiences sexual abuse"

Monday 22 July 2019

The number of sexual crimes committed against children in Guernsey is on the rise, with one reported every week to Guernsey Police.

The harrowing figures were revealed as part of an investigation by children's charity the NSPCC.

They found that 119 offences had been recorded in the past 12 months across the Channel Islands, with 99 of those victims girls.

106 offences had been reported the previous year.

Even worse, the NSPCC is concerned that the figures do not show the full scale of the problem, as many young people do not come forward to report the crimes committed against them. 

“Behind each recorded offence is a child that has experienced suffering that no child should," said Jacky Moon, NSPCC Service Centre Manager.

"We know from our own research that on average 1 in 20 children will experience sexual abuse, which is why it’s so important communities work together to prevent it from happening in the first place and make sure that if it does happen it’s recorded so the necessary support can be provided for that child and to stop that offender striking again.

"We all have a responsibility to safeguard children, and it’s vital as adults we recognise that children and young people often don’t realise that was is happening to them is abuse."

The children's charity asked for the police data in a Freedom of Information request. It showed that 53 offences had been reported to Guernsey Police between April last year and March this year. Anyone who has child safeguarding concerns can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or find more information about nspcc.org.uk.

Pictured top: A file image of a girl.