TEAMS from the NSPCC-backed ChildLine Schools Service are working in Spalding area primary schools to help stem the rising tide of sex crimes against children.
Some 307 sex crimes against children were reported to Lincolnshire Police last year, including rape, incest and abuse through prostitution and pornography.
Fourteen victims were aged five or younger – and 41 were primary school age.
The NSPCC says its ChildLine Schools’ Service is working with Spalding’s Monkshouse Primary, Whaplode Primary, Gedney Hill, Fleet Wood Lane and Quadring Cowley and Brown’s.
The children’s charity has obtained figures for the last four years through a Freedom of Information requests to the police. And they show sex attacks on children in Lincolnshire have risen for the third year in a row.
Fiona Richards, NSPCC East Midlands regional head of services for children and families, said: “Many of these distressing offences are committed on extremely young and helpless children, who may not understand what is happening to them and are unable to ask for help.
“The NSPCC is doing what it can by using information like this from the police to tailor our treatment services – differing approaches are needed depending on the age of the child.
“We are pioneering new programmes in the region to tackle sexual abuse of children, including our schools service which aims to visit every primary school in the county over two years.”
The charity says it cannot tackle child sex abuse by itself.
Ms Richards said: “It requires a major effort from Government and the public to give children the protection they need and to provide more therapeutic programmes so the young victims of abuse can start to rebuild their lives.
l If adults have concerns about a child they are asked to contact police, social services or the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 where counsellors are on call 24 hours a day.
Children seeking help can contact ChildLine on 0800 1111 or www.childline.org.uk