With the Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner elections less than a month away, I am writing to you all of the candidates to ask them to pledge support for our It’s Time campaign and commit to ensuring that support for children who are victims of abuse and neglect is included in their delivery plan.
Every year over half a million children are abused in the UK, the equivalent of two children in every primary school classroom.
The majority are unable to access the support and care they desperately need and the NSPCC believes it’s time this changed.
We all have a choice about how a child’s life is shaped after abuse.
Commissioners will have control over budgets and vital services which would ensure victims of child abuse get support.
The Prime Minister has rightly prioritised child sexual abuse as a national threat - last year in Cambridgeshire there were 1,142 child sex offences reported to police.
Over 220 of these cases involved children aged 10 and under. We know that therapeutic support can help transform children’s lives.
Through setting it as a strategic priority, the next Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire can best ensure that abused children have access to the timely, evidence based support services they desperately need to overcome their ordeal.
COLIN PEAK
Regional head of service for East of England
NSPCC
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