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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Warning over children who abuse | Warning over children who abuse |
| (about 23 hours later) | |
| Children at risk of sex offending need more help in a bid to reverse the rising number of sex crimes committed by youngsters, experts say. | Children at risk of sex offending need more help in a bid to reverse the rising number of sex crimes committed by youngsters, experts say. |
| Charities say the internet is a growing factor, with children as young as five treated for inappropriate behaviour. | Charities say the internet is a growing factor, with children as young as five treated for inappropriate behaviour. |
| The Youth Justice Board said 1,664 children were given police warnings or court orders for sex offences in 2002-3 - by 2005-6 this had risen to 1,988. | The Youth Justice Board said 1,664 children were given police warnings or court orders for sex offences in 2002-3 - by 2005-6 this had risen to 1,988. |
| NHS chiefs said services were improving but admitted care was too inconsistent. | NHS chiefs said services were improving but admitted care was too inconsistent. |
| The voluntary sector treats most of the children demonstrating what is termed 'sexually harmful behaviour', taking referrals from police, social services and the NHS. | |
| One of the biggest problems today is with the internet. Some of the most graphic, horrible images are just a few clicks away Tink Palmer, of the Internet Watch Foundation The taboo of child-on-child abuse | One of the biggest problems today is with the internet. Some of the most graphic, horrible images are just a few clicks away Tink Palmer, of the Internet Watch Foundation The taboo of child-on-child abuse |
| This includes children who have committed sex offences, such as indecent exposure or sex assaults, or, for young children, those who are engaging in acts deemed inappropriate for their age. | This includes children who have committed sex offences, such as indecent exposure or sex assaults, or, for young children, those who are engaging in acts deemed inappropriate for their age. |
| The biggest single provider of services is the NSPCC, which runs 22 services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. | The biggest single provider of services is the NSPCC, which runs 22 services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| The charity treated over 750 youngsters last year - the overwhelming majority boys - with an average age of 13, although children as young as five were seen by NSPCC specialists in talking therapies. | The charity treated over 750 youngsters last year - the overwhelming majority boys - with an average age of 13, although children as young as five were seen by NSPCC specialists in talking therapies. |
| Numbers have been gradually increasing in recent years, partly due to more awareness over the issue, the charity says. | Numbers have been gradually increasing in recent years, partly due to more awareness over the issue, the charity says. |
| But officials say they are particularly worried about the role the internet is playing. | But officials say they are particularly worried about the role the internet is playing. |
| Kevin Gibbs, co-chairman of the NSPCC's sexually harmful behaviour group, said: "These children have usually experienced some sort of trauma - sex abuse or violence - which seems to be behind this. | Kevin Gibbs, co-chairman of the NSPCC's sexually harmful behaviour group, said: "These children have usually experienced some sort of trauma - sex abuse or violence - which seems to be behind this. |
| "But what all our services are reporting is that the children they are seeing report having seen abusive sexual images on the internet. | "But what all our services are reporting is that the children they are seeing report having seen abusive sexual images on the internet. |
| "Five years ago this was just not available to them. It is not so much a trigger, but the problem is that is desensitises them and enables them to tell themselves what they are thinking is okay. | "Five years ago this was just not available to them. It is not so much a trigger, but the problem is that is desensitises them and enables them to tell themselves what they are thinking is okay. |
| "This is affecting all sectors of society. The children we are seeing come from all kinds of background." | "This is affecting all sectors of society. The children we are seeing come from all kinds of background." |
| He added better co-ordination was needed between government departments, police and councils to make sure the early warning signs are acted up on. | He added better co-ordination was needed between government departments, police and councils to make sure the early warning signs are acted up on. |
| His comments come after the number of children being warned by the police or ending up with court orders for sex offences increased. | His comments come after the number of children being warned by the police or ending up with court orders for sex offences increased. |
| In 2002-3, there were 1,664 cases. But by 2005-6 this had risen to 1,988, according to the Youth Justice Board. One in 10 of the offences were committed by children aged 12 or under. | In 2002-3, there were 1,664 cases. But by 2005-6 this had risen to 1,988, according to the Youth Justice Board. One in 10 of the offences were committed by children aged 12 or under. |
| Inconsistency | Inconsistency |
| While most children will be treated by the voluntary sector, the NHS - in partnership with local government - does offer some support through Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs), which are situated in a variety of places, including schools, GP surgeries and hospitals. | While most children will be treated by the voluntary sector, the NHS - in partnership with local government - does offer some support through Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs), which are situated in a variety of places, including schools, GP surgeries and hospitals. |
| But Pam Hibbert, principal policy officer at Barnardo's, which runs 11 services across the country, said: "Their waiting lists are very high, and they just don't have the capacity or speciality to deal with these children. | But Pam Hibbert, principal policy officer at Barnardo's, which runs 11 services across the country, said: "Their waiting lists are very high, and they just don't have the capacity or speciality to deal with these children. |
| "We need councils to take charge." | "We need councils to take charge." |
| Jo Webber, of the NHS Confederation, said: "The service is improving, but there is still too much inconsistency. | Jo Webber, of the NHS Confederation, said: "The service is improving, but there is still too much inconsistency. |
| "There is some great voluntary sector provision and we need to work in partnership with these bodies to make sure children get the right help." | "There is some great voluntary sector provision and we need to work in partnership with these bodies to make sure children get the right help." |
| Tink Palmer, who used to run a service for children who display sexually harmful behaviour and who is now a board member of the Internet Watch Foundation, agreed more co-ordination of services was needed. | Tink Palmer, who used to run a service for children who display sexually harmful behaviour and who is now a board member of the Internet Watch Foundation, agreed more co-ordination of services was needed. |
| But she added: "One of the biggest problems today is with the internet. Some of the most graphic, horrible images are just a few clicks away. | But she added: "One of the biggest problems today is with the internet. Some of the most graphic, horrible images are just a few clicks away. |
| "It is important parents make sure they know what children are doing on computers." | "It is important parents make sure they know what children are doing on computers." |