A charity has highlighted a rise in sexual abuse against children aged under 13 in Scotland.
The NSPCC said Police Scotland recorded more than 700 offences against young children in 2012/13.
NSPCC is the UK's National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
The charity also reported an increase in calls to its helpline.
It said it was so concerned by the figures that it is re-running its Underwear Rule campaign, which encourages parents to talk to children about staying safe from sexual abuse. More on this in another post.
A total of 3,369 sexual offences against children were recorded by Police Scotland in 2012/13, according to figures from the Scottish government.
A quarter of those cases related to offences which had been committed before December 2010.
Figures from the NSPCC's helpline for concerned adults showed that sexual abuse accounted for 13% of calls which resulted in a referral, and 26% of calls which resulted in advice in 2012/13.
Compared with 2011/12, this represented a 68% increase in referral figures and an 83% increase in advice contacts.
Matt Forde, national head of service for NSPCC Scotland, said: "These figures are unfortunately just the tip of the iceberg.
"We know that it can take many years before victims disclose abuse - in the meantime there will be many more children in Scotland who do not understand what is happening to them, or who have tried to tell but have not been heard."
The NSPCC said Police Scotland recorded more than 700 offences against young children in 2012/13.
NSPCC is the UK's National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
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| NSPCC Headquarters, London |
It said it was so concerned by the figures that it is re-running its Underwear Rule campaign, which encourages parents to talk to children about staying safe from sexual abuse. More on this in another post.
A total of 3,369 sexual offences against children were recorded by Police Scotland in 2012/13, according to figures from the Scottish government.
A quarter of those cases related to offences which had been committed before December 2010.
Figures from the NSPCC's helpline for concerned adults showed that sexual abuse accounted for 13% of calls which resulted in a referral, and 26% of calls which resulted in advice in 2012/13.
Compared with 2011/12, this represented a 68% increase in referral figures and an 83% increase in advice contacts.
Matt Forde, national head of service for NSPCC Scotland, said: "These figures are unfortunately just the tip of the iceberg.
"We know that it can take many years before victims disclose abuse - in the meantime there will be many more children in Scotland who do not understand what is happening to them, or who have tried to tell but have not been heard."
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