Calls to ChildLine about sexual abuse

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Calls to ChildLine about sexual abuse

February 2007

Front cover of Calls to ChildLine about sexual abuse ChildLine Casenotes is a series of reports based on analysis of calls to ChildLine, a free confidential helpline for children and young people in the UK provided by the NSPCC.

Calls to ChildLine about sexual abuse (PDF, 460KB) is based on detailed analysis of calls to ChildLine in April 2006.

Key findings

In 2005/06, a total of 11,976 children spoke to ChildLine about sexual abuse - an average of more than one full classroom of children per day, every day of the year.
On average, children who contact ChildLine about sexual abuse now do so much sooner after the abuse begins than they used to.
In 94 per cent of calls to ChildLine about sexual abuse in 2005/06, the child knew his or her abuser. Fifty-nine per cent of abusers were family members, 35 per cent were acquaintances, and 5 per cent were strangers.
Children waited longer before contacting ChildLine when the sexual abuse was committed by a father or stepfather. When the abuse was by an acquaintance or stranger, victims were much more likely to contact ChildLine soon after the abuse began.
Rape was by far the most common type of sexual abuse reported, accounting for 63 per cent of calls to ChildLine about sexual abuse in 2005/06.

This Casenote is one of a series sponsored by Amlin, a London-based insurer, as part of their 2007 Charity and Community Programme. www.amlin.com

Calls to ChildLine about sexual abuse

February 2007

Key findings

Calls to ChildLine about sexual abuse (PDF, 460KB)

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