Victims as young as four in crimes ranging from rape to indecent exposure have been investigated over the last three years
Police have investigated more than 100 sex offences in the last three years that are alleged to have happened on North Wales school premises.
Crimes ranging from rape to sexual activity with children, voyeurism and indecent exposure have all been looked into since 2013.
In some cases, the victims have been as young as four-years-old and the alleged attackers as young as eight.
But, of the 108 reports and complaints North Wales Police officers have been tasked with looking into, in some of them there is no prospect of a conviction because the offences are alleged to have been committed by someone under the age of 10.
Children under this age are not deemed to be of “criminally responsible” age.
In two cases, the investigations were settled with a so-called Community Resolution and, in another two, youths accepted a caution.
A number may be 'historic' cases reported since 2013
All the allegations have been made to police since 2013, but a number of them may be “historic” cases of child sex abuse.
The police have logged the ages of the suspects and victims in some of the cases as being in their 60s and 80s, meaning the cases almost certainly relate to offences committed in the past that have only recently been reported.
But, in 77 of the cases, police have listed the alleged victims being under the age of 18 at the time the complaint was received, meaning the cases are much more recent.
North Wales Police Superintendent Gareth Evans said: “North Wales Police works in partnership with local education authorities to safeguard children wherever they are.
“There is a school liaison programme in every primary and secondary school delivering a broad spectrum of lessons focusing on safety and behaviour. This includes the use of innovative educational tools such as the Cats Paw presentation which has been widely passed out to schools over the years with the focus on safeguarding issues.
'Police work with schools to safeguard children'
“We are unable to comment on the FOI data as it currently stands. Children reporting incidents in school which have happened elsewhere may impact on the data and in fact may demonstrate the trust children have in their teachers and school staff.
“Safeguarding children will always be a priority for North Wales Police with specialist teams working in partnership to ensure offences are investigated.”
Teachers said schools had sex education policies in place to try to make sure children understand how sexual behaviour affects other people.
Neil Foden, a spokesman for the National Union of Teachers and head of Ysgol Friars in Bangor, said: “I have had very little experience of dealing with sexual offences committed in schools but a hard stance would always be taken on incidents of that nature.
“We would always exclude pupils and that would have a fairly salutary effect but there are very few incidents as a whole.
“We have a very robust sexual education policy where we look at relationships and the impact of pupil’s actions on another person.
'There are very few incidents as a whole'
“We talk about consent and about sexual health. We also invite the police and theatre groups in to talk about underage sex.
“We spend a lot of time talking about it in the classroom and in assemblies.”
He added: “I think online safety is more of a risk than sexual offences on school premises with inappropriate messages and pictures being sent on social media.
“You can’t police what people do in their own homes.
“I don’t disagree that 100 sexual assaults reported on school grounds in North Wales in the last three years is concerning, but I personally think online safety and sexting is more of an issue.”
One case involving an alleged sexual offence against a child as young as four was made in 2015.
There are currently 33 cases ongoing. Eight cases have resulted in charges, two youths have been cautioned and there have been two “community resolutions”.
In relation to 25 incidents, a suspect had been identified.
'It's shocking that over 100 offences have been recorded'
Action could not be taken in 18 cases where the alleged offender was “under the age of criminal responsibility”, which is 10 years old.
In other cases, either no suspect has been identified, there has been lack of evidence, or the alleged victim or suspect has been either too ill for the case to proceed or has died.
It is understood that some of the allegations may have been recorded as having taken place on school premises such as in the grounds or on footpaths, and as such may not be directly linked to the school, teachers or pupils.
It is also possible that some of the complaints may have been made by children at school but relate to sexual offences committed at the schools themselves, according to North Wales Police’s own analysis of the data, which was provided to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty To Children (NSPCC).
It had asked the force to “supply the number of recorded sexual offences that took place within school grounds in the force area in each of the last three calendar years - and in 2016 so far”.
The response from police stated that “crimes relate to all recorded sexual offences, which were recorded as having occurred at school".
'Schools should always be safe places'
A spokesman for the NSPCC said: “Although the exact circumstances of these attacks are not clear from the figures, it remains a serious concern that an increasing number of reported sexual offences have taken place on school property.
“Schools should always be safe places and where offences have occurred while a child is in the care of adults, a review of safeguarding procedures must accompany any criminal investigation.
“Sexual violence will inevitably have a profound impact on a child’s life, both in the short-term and in later life, and it’s absolutely critical that all possible support is offered to those who’ve been affected.
“Efforts must also be made to ensure all children know how to stay safe, speak out and seek help when there are cases of abuse.
“No child should be victim to any kind of sexual assault and it’s shocking that over 100 offences have been recorded on school grounds in less than four years in north Wales.”
'More people are coming forward to report crimes of this nature'
The spokesman added: “Historic offences are included in these figures and we welcome efforts by North Wales Police to ensure witnesses have the confidence to come forward.
“Some cases are currently categorised by the force as ongoing and it’s important that all efforts are made to ensure an outcome as soon as possible.”
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones added: “While there appears to have been a marked increase in the number of sexual offences taking place on school grounds, this may be due to more people coming forward to report crimes of this nature.
“Many of these may well be historic offences and in itself that represents a success in encouraging the victims of sexual assaults to come forward confident in the knowledge that they will be treated sympathetically and their complaints properly investigated.
“Dedicated teams now exist to deal with these offences along with a very good and developing victim support system so the whole climate for victims of sexual assault is very different to what it was even two years ago.”
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/more-100-sex-offences-reported-12052854
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