THE NSPCC has called for greater resources to be deployed to deal with child sex abuse cases after revealing a dramatic increase in offences recorded by the region’s police forces.

The charity said reported sexual offences against under 18s – including rape, sexual assault and sexual exploitation – had more than trebled year-on-year in the Cleveland Police force area.

They also nearly doubled in the Northumbria area, while North Yorkshire Police recorded a year-on-year rise.

On average the NSPCC, which sent Freedom of Information requests to individual forces, said police officers in the UK were recording one child sex offence every ten minutes. Across the UK, the total rose to a record 55,507 in 2015/16.

It said to cope with the number of children coming forward specialist training was needed for police investigating online child abuse, along with effective rehabilitation for child sex offenders and Government investment in early intervention services to help children recover.

In Cleveland 247 sexual offences against under 18s were recorded in 2014/15, but a year later that figure had shot up to 820. Of those 270 recorded crimes involved children aged under four.

Figures for Northumbria Police showed that 778 sex crimes were recorded against children in 2014/15. This soared to 1,482 in 2015/16 of which 148 involved pre-school age children.

There was also a year-on-year rise in North Yorkshire over the period from 624 to 681. Durham Police did not provide figures, the NSPCC said.

It believed the “dramatic increase” could be explained by improved recording methods by police forces and survivors feeling more confident in disclosing abuse following a number of national high-profile cases.

But it also cited online grooming as another factor with paedophiles being able to use the internet and social media.

Cleveland Police now offers age appropriate sessions on internet safety to all schools in the area with pupils being given advice on internet grooming.

Detective Superintendent Anne-Marie Salwey said: “There has been a £3m investment into Cleveland Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People Unit.

“We have seen an increase in the reporting of sexual offences, including historical offences. In part these numbers have grown due to an increase in confidence of victims coming forward, impacted by the number of high profile cases in the national media.”

The NSPCC’s own ‘Speak Out Stay Safe’ programme is also visiting primary schools to help children learn the signs of abuse and what to do if they have been a victim.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Vera Baird said: “For me, these are encouraging figures. I understand that for some the numbers may seem concerning but it’s reassuring that proactive operations by Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding team combined with the ongoing ‘Yewtree’ effect are having a profound impact and are building victim confidence.

“It’s what we want – for people to come forward knowing they will be believed.”