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The sexual abuse of children and young people is an issue which is of natural concern for parents and carers. Over the past few years there has been an increase in the number of reported rapes and sexual assaults committed against young people in the UK. Rape and sexual assault are often hidden issues which can have a devastating effect on someone’s life. Research carried out by the NSPCC suggests that 10% of children and young people have been sexually abused by the age of 16. Based upon a study of sexual abuse and assaults of children and young people reported to Sussex Police in Brighton and Hove during 2004, we see that there is a marked difference between the abuse of young children and that of teenagers. As the graph below shows, young children are most likely to be abused by family members, relatives or someone they know. While young people, over the age of 12, are far more likely to be abused by a stranger, friend or partner.
Important factors involved in this change are the differences which exist in the lifestyles of teenagers compared with younger children. From 12 years upwards young people start becoming sexually active, begin relationships, have a significant change in the amount of contact they have with older young people and adults, begin to experiment with alcohol and drugs and tend to become more secretive. However, it must be pointed out that these figures are based upon ‘reported’ crimes to the Police. Unfortunately only a small amount of rape and sexual assaults are ever reported to anyone. This can be down to a number of factors including, the assault being so horrific that all they want to do it try to forget about it, fear of reprisal because they know the person, or persons, who did it and that many rapes are carried out within relationships by boyfriends or partners. Reporting rape and sexual assault Children and young people should always be encouraged to tell someone they trust about any abuse they may suffer. It is vital that they are able to confide in someone and seek help and support regarding their experience. There are many support and counseling services, both in Brighton & Hove and nationally, which children and young people can access. For more information see the ‘Map of Services’ and ‘Support Services for Children & Young People’ page on this website or the ‘Services which can help' download. Any assault or abuse should also be reported to the Police. By reporting to the police children, young people and their families will be referred to support services and will given specialist support throughout the reporting and any court process. What parents and carers can do As mentioned in other pages on this website, the best thing parents and carers can do to help protect the children they care for is in building a trusting relationship with them. Only by having respect for one and other and able to talk about problems and issues can parents help children and young people and give them the support to make healthy choices in relationships and to look out for themselves when out and about in the city. The desire to wrap children up in cotton wool and help protect them from nasty things in the world is a natural reaction to have. However, the best ways we can help and protect children is by informing them about the risks and give them the skills to help protect themselves and offer them advice and support about what they should do. Even though it can be difficult at times, we must all give our children the room to grow and develop their own sense of protection and safety. Key to this is the information they have and the way in which they build the skills to learn and adapt to a changing world. As the old saying goes, education is the best form of prevention. For more information which can help with these see the ‘Protective Behaviours’ and ‘Independence and Growing up’ pages on this website. Downloads What to do: This download gives you more information and advice about what you can do if your child is a survivor of rape or sexual assault. Services which can help: This download gives you more information about support services in Brighton & Hove and nationally which can help children and young people. What you need to know: the Sexual Offences Act: This download provides a summary of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and what it means to young people. Links The Truth about rape campaign gives you lots of information about rape and sexual assault. The site addresses some myths and attitudes which exist in society and provides information about where someone can get help and support. Face up to it is website was developed by young people and for young people to raise awareness of sexual exploitation and abuse. It gives young people some good information about these serious issues and explains a bit about it. The respect for us website is designed for young people and explains more about crime, respect and life style choices. Don’t hide it is a simple and good website about sexual abuse developed by the NSPCC. It provides information in a clear and simple way and gives advice and information about what children and young people can do and who they can turn to for help and support. Rape Crisis is a charity set up to support the survivors of rape and sexual assault. They have loads of information on the website, and can also advise about help and support services. Swish is the local Brighton & Hove sexual health website designed for young people. They have loads of information and advice about all manner of issues to do with sexual health and local sexual health services in the city. Think u know is website designed to give a variety of information and advice about staying safe online. It has information about how to have fun on the internet in a safe way and how to help you and your child stay in control of what happens on the net. The stop it now campaign aims to raise awareness throughout society of child abuse and child welfare issues. They offer a range of advice and information regarding child abuse and what parents and carers can do to help and protect children. www.malerapesexualabuse.ik.com Help and support to male victims of rape, adult male survivors of childhood sexual abuse and male victims of domestic/partner violence www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2003/20030042.htm This link to the Office of Public sector Information provides a copy of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and gives you a break down of all the crimes now listed within the Act. |
