Lancashire sees rise in child sex offence reports

The number of reported sexual offences against children to the police force that brought disgraced broadcaster Stuart Hall to justice has risen by nearly a third this year.

Lancashire Constabulary received 467 such complaints from April to August this year, compared to a total of 353 in the corresponding period in 2012.

Allegations of both historic and current sex crimes against under-16s rose at a similar rate within the increase, said the force's head of public protection.

On May 2, Hall's catalogue of sexual offences against children as young as nine first became public knowledge when he pleaded guilty. He was jailed at Preston Crown for 15 months before his sentence was later doubled to 30 months at the Court of Appeal.

Detective Superintendent Ian Critchley said Lancashire's hard work in tackling child sexual exploitation had hopefully encouraged victims to come forward.

Lone white males continue to be the most common offenders of CSE in Lancashire but the force has acknowledged that in the east of the county there has been a disproportionate number of Pakistani heritage males committing such offences in groups.

Efforts to raise awareness of the issue with local Muslim communities will continue, according to officers.

Police say the approach to tackling Child Sexual Exploitation is long term.

Detectives want anyone who has been, or knows someone who has been, sexually abused, groomed or exploited to come forward and contact them.

A live web-chat is also taking place about the issue of internet safety. Details can be found on the Lancashire Constabulary website.