Back in November the Guardian reported that the NSPCC had
experienced a 200% increase in calls about sexual abuse. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/nov/15/jimmy-savile-police-arrest-fourth-suspect
More generally, the BBC article also reports that the
Metropolitan Police has experienced a four-fold increase in complaints of
sexual assault, in the wake of the Savile allegations.
It quotes the director of the NSPCC helpline as saying
that by speaking out Savile's victims have raised awareness
of child sex abuse so emboldening others to do the same.
We do not know how reports of abuse map to actual incidence
and prevalence. Clearly there is a big ‘iceberg effect’ with much abuse going
unreported.
But more reports of abuse mean more work for agencies and
professionals, stretching already under-funded services. The Savile affair demonstrates
the need for child protection services which are flexible and which are capable of rapid expansion
to take account of surges in demand.
