DOZENS of babies have been sexually abused in Essex according to figures released by the NSPCC.

The number of sex abuse crimes recorded against children by Essex Police has risen 64 per cent including 38 against babies aged under one.

In 2014/15 there were 1,293 reports against children but by 2018/19 this had risen to 2,122, according to figures released by the NSPCC following a freedom of information request to Essex Police,

Many of these will be historic offences.

Among the crimes reported were 38 on babies and 682 on children aged ten and under.

The figures also revealed nationwide a child is sexually assaulted every seven minutes.

Children who suffered sexual abuse will often need extensive support but overstretched services are failing to keep pace with demand, and the NSPCC is calling for a radical reshaping of how this support is delivered across the country.

Peter Wanless, NSPCC CEO, said: “Record numbers of child sexual offences means we are facing a nationwide crisis in the help available for tens of thousands of children.

“These children are bravely disclosing what happened to them but in too many cases there is not enough timely, joined up and child-friendly support. Instead they are shunted from overstretched service to service.

“We need a radical rethink in the way we help these young people, otherwise they could struggle for the rest of their lives with long term, deep seated trauma.”

The charity is calling for the provision of specialised services around the country, with an emphasis on early joined up support from police, local NHS services, children’s services and advocacy for children who have experienced sexual abuse, offered in child-friendly spaces. It is hoped by working together victims can be helped and others will not then become victims in the future.