60 children abused every day: NSPCC

60 children abused every day: NSPCC

More than 21,000 child sex offences were recorded in England and Wales last year, figures have revealed.

An average of 60 sex crimes against youngsters were recorded every day, according to data from 43 police forces.

Of the 21,618 cases of abuse - including rape, gross indecency and incest - between April 2008 and March 2009, one in seven victims were younger than 10 and 1,000 were five and under.

The "shocking" statistics were obtained by a Freedom of Information request by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

In more than three out of four cases the offences were committed against 10 to 17-year-olds.

Read more here: Press Association (25 January 2010)