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Thousands of child sex abuse cases missed, report says Thousands of child sex abuse cases missed, report says
(35 minutes later)
Only one in eight children in England who are sexually abused are identified by authorities, a study suggests.Only one in eight children in England who are sexually abused are identified by authorities, a study suggests.
Police and local authorities found 50,000 cases of abuse in the two-year period from April 2012 to March 2014.Police and local authorities found 50,000 cases of abuse in the two-year period from April 2012 to March 2014.
But a report by the children's commissioner suggests the actual number was up to 450,000, with 85% of cases missed, particularly within families.But a report by the children's commissioner suggests the actual number was up to 450,000, with 85% of cases missed, particularly within families.
The government says it has set up a taskforce to change the way police, schools and social services react. The government said it had set up a taskforce to look at how police, social services and schools dealt with abuse.
The report found:The report found:
Analysis: How big is child abuse 'iceberg'?Analysis: How big is child abuse 'iceberg'?
Are paedophiles' brains wired differently?Are paedophiles' brains wired differently?
Children's commissioner Anne Longfield said recent attention and investigations had focused on the abuse children suffered in institutions or by groups of perpetrators.Children's commissioner Anne Longfield said recent attention and investigations had focused on the abuse children suffered in institutions or by groups of perpetrators.
She said: "We must now wake up to and urgently address the most common form of child sexual abuse - that which takes place behind the front door within families or their trusted circles." "We must now wake up to and urgently address the most common form of child sexual abuse - that which takes place behind the front door within families or their trusted circles," she said.
She called for urgent action from government to prevent abuse, and for more training to help teachers, social services, police and other professionals identify abuse early on.She called for urgent action from government to prevent abuse, and for more training to help teachers, social services, police and other professionals identify abuse early on.
"Our duty must be to do all we can to ensure it stops, to ensure children get the childhood they deserve." "There are always signs. Mental health problems, children can become withdrawn or show overly sexualised behaviour. If you know the child it will be obvious to see changes in their behaviour," she said.
The report - the most detailed analysis of child sex abuse in England to date - examined information from a range of sources, including police and local councils, and surveys from more than 750 survivors of abuse.The report - the most detailed analysis of child sex abuse in England to date - examined information from a range of sources, including police and local councils, and surveys from more than 750 survivors of abuse.
It drew on a recent study of child maltreatment, which found 11.3% of young adults aged 18-24 had experienced sexual abuse during childhood, and calculated results based on the 11.5m children and young people living in England. It also drew on a recent study of child maltreatment - which found 11.3% of young adults aged 18-24 had experienced sexual abuse during childhood - and calculated results based on the 11.5m children and young people living in England.
Norfolk Chief Constable Simon Bailey, who is in charge of police child protection and abuse investigations nationally, said: "The numbers are staggering [but] I'm not that surprised.Norfolk Chief Constable Simon Bailey, who is in charge of police child protection and abuse investigations nationally, said: "The numbers are staggering [but] I'm not that surprised.
"I've regularly talked about the level of child abuse reported to police as being the tip of the iceberg.""I've regularly talked about the level of child abuse reported to police as being the tip of the iceberg."
Police had made significant improvements in dealing with child abuse reports, but there was still work to do, he admitted.Police had made significant improvements in dealing with child abuse reports, but there was still work to do, he admitted.
He said: "Jimmy Savile in 2012 was a watershed moment, for the police service in particular. This now has to be a watershed moment for all agencies involved in child protection. "Jimmy Savile in 2012 was a watershed moment, for the police service in particular. This now has to be a watershed moment for all agencies involved in child protection.
"We have to fundamentally rethink how we go about stopping abuse of this nature happening on the horrific scale the commission has identified.""We have to fundamentally rethink how we go about stopping abuse of this nature happening on the horrific scale the commission has identified."
The report calls for a major strategy by government to prevent child abuse, including:The report calls for a major strategy by government to prevent child abuse, including:
The Department for Education said it would "carefully consider" the recommendations in the report.The Department for Education said it would "carefully consider" the recommendations in the report.
"[This government] set up the first ever cross-government child protection taskforce to overhaul the way police, schools, social services and others work together in tackling this abhorrent crime," it said."[This government] set up the first ever cross-government child protection taskforce to overhaul the way police, schools, social services and others work together in tackling this abhorrent crime," it said.
"We have also invested an extra £100m to support vulnerable children and we are providing £7m for services supporting child abuse survivors.""We have also invested an extra £100m to support vulnerable children and we are providing £7m for services supporting child abuse survivors."
Roy Perry, of the Local Government Association, said the burden of disclosing abuse needed to be taken away from children wherever possible, but "councils cannot do this alone. We need support from a million eyes and ears amongst the public".Roy Perry, of the Local Government Association, said the burden of disclosing abuse needed to be taken away from children wherever possible, but "councils cannot do this alone. We need support from a million eyes and ears amongst the public".
Children's Commissioners in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland said they had no equivalent figures on abuse.Children's Commissioners in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland said they had no equivalent figures on abuse.
The Truth About Child Sex Abuse is on BBC Two at 22:00 GMT on Tuesday. If you miss it, click here to catch up online.The Truth About Child Sex Abuse is on BBC Two at 22:00 GMT on Tuesday. If you miss it, click here to catch up online.