Child sex abuse figure rise "down to more reporting, not higher offending"

Thursday 12 May 2016

While reported cases of child sexual abuse in Jersey were up 33% last year, the numbers should not cause alarm, representatives from Police and the Safeguarding Partnership Board said yesterday.

“According to police analysis, the rise is considered to be the result of increasing public awareness and belief that reporting will be responded to effectively,” said Glenys Johnston, the Independent Chair of the SPB.

Seventy-two sexual offences against children under 18 were reported last year, up from 54 the previous year and 41 in 2013, according the board's Annual Report, which was released yesterday afternoon.

The offences ranged from unlawful intercourse with a person under the age of 16, to indecent assault and rape, said Police Head of Crime Services Detective Superintendent Stewart Gull.

He also noted that some of these numbers included historical cases, and not necessarily incidents which occurred over the past year.

The rise in reported incidents in Jersey contrasts with a downward trend in reporting numbers in England, said Mrs Johnston.

“Among our priorities for this year and the next is to increase awareness of how people report suspected harm, or abuse of children and adults who may be at risk, and to continue to build confidence that if they do report their concerns, organisations in Jersey will listen and help,” she said.

She also announced that in future all deaths of children under the age of 18 will be investigated.

Jersey and Guernsey have established a joint Child Death Overview Panel and the first meeting is expected to be held shortly.