A record number of sexual offences led to a child being cautioned or sentenced in Cumbria last year, new figures show.
The latest figures from the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales show 39 sexual offences led to Cumbria Constabulary sentencing or cautioning an under-18 in the year to March – up from 20, and the highest number since records began in 2013-14.
A total of seven serious offences, such as murder, violent crime or some sexual offences, led to a child being cautioned or sentenced in Cumbria last year – of these, six were sexual offences.
Meanwhile, Cumbria Constabulary arrested 445 children for all offences in 2021-22, equating to 10.3 per 1,000 children.
White Ribbon, a charity aiming to engage men and boys and end violence against women and girls, said the hundreds of cases nationally were too high and urged the Government to increase funding in education.
The Home Office said it was determined to tackle sexual abuse and was rolling out guidance on how to teach children about sexual harassment, sexual violence and violence against women and girls to prevent children from committing further sexual offences.
But across England and Wales, the number of offences leading to children sentenced or cautioned for committing a sexual offence fell by two per cent to the second-lowest figure since records began in 2011-12, from 903 to 884.
Only in 2019-20 did police record fewer proven offences (881), while the total number has more than halved since 2011-12.
Anthea Sully, chief executive of White Ribbon, said: “Despite this being a reduction in numbers, it is still far too high, and behind every number there is still a story of very real harm.
“There is not nearly enough funding put into preventing this work in education settings.
“Unless the Government commits to this, there will continue to be children where lifelong harm is caused.”
A Government spokesman said: “We are determined to tackle all sexual abuse, including violence against women and girls, and to keep children safe.
“Relationships, sex and health education has been made a mandatory part of the school curriculum, helping pupils learn about these subjects in an age-appropriate way.
“Later this year we will also issue further non-statutory guidance on how to teach children about sexual harassment, sexual violence and violence against women and girls in order to help prevent these crimes from taking place in the long term.”
Arrests for sexual offences rose by 64 per cent across the country, from 1,700 to 2,900.
