RECORDED sexual offences against children has reached an all-time high in Cumbria.

Data obtained by the NSPCC has revealed that the number of sexual offences against a child has peaked in the county, rising by over 100 per cent.

There were 76,204 recorded offences including rape, grooming, and sexual assault against children in the UK in 2018/19,which is an average of one every seven minutes.

4,952 of these offences were recorded by police in the North East and Cumbria.

Analysis of the data also reveals that where the age of victim was provided, 16,773 offences were recorded against children aged ten and under, with 341 of the offences against babies under the age of one.

In 2014/15, Cumbria recorded 429 offences and in 2018/19 a total of 1,037 offences were recorded. This is a total of 141 per cent.

n 2018/19, there were 8,656 recorded child sexual offences flagged as involving an online element – an increase of 18 per cent from the previous year that recorded 7,362.

Peter Wanless, NSPCC CEO, 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.”

Children who suffered sexual abuse will often need extensive support but overstretched services are failing to keep pace with demand, and the NSPCC is calling for a radical reshaping of how this support is delivered across the country.

Detective Inspector James Yallop said: “The constabulary has seen a significant increase in the number of child sex offences reported over this period. The increase, in part is a reflection of the work Cumbria Police has done to raise awareness of online abuse and Child Sexual Exploitation”

“As with other areas of criminality, offenders are using the internet to commit crime and this accounts for 23% of the 1037 offences”.

“The constabulary will continue to proactively target child sex offenders and bring these people to justice”

“I want people to have the confidence to come forward and speak about abuse. I would urge anyone who is worried about a child who may be suffering abuse to get in touch – whether that is via an anonymous helpline, through the NSPCC, the police, or a trusted adult”

The charity is calling for the provision of specialised services around the country, with an emphasis on early joined up support from police, local NHS services, children’s services and advocacy for children who have experienced sexual abuse, offered in child-friendly spaces.

A total of 44 out of 45 police forces across the UK provided the NSPCC with the latest data on sexual offences against under 18s after a Freedom of Information request.