A study by the London Assembly’s police and crime committee found that the number of alleged rapes and sexual assaults of children in the capital rose by more than a third (34 per cent) between 2009/10 and 2013/14 to 583 allegations of rape and 1,803 allegations of sexual assault.
However, the number of police officers dedicated to investigating sexual offences, including those against adults, as well as exploitation and child abuse, has not kept pace – rising 22 per cent during the same period to 966 officers.
The report calls for the Metropolitan Police to increase the number of officers assigned to the force’s Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, to “ensure it is comprehensively staffed to meet immediate challenges and long-term demand”.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
