Monday 19 January 2009

More dubious statistics from the statistics factory

The quango* known as the NSPCC has churned out some more "shock horror (give us more money or else!)" numbers today.

Police recorded more than 50 sexual offences against children every day last year, new figures have shown. There were 20,758 alleged sex crimes involving under-18s reported to officers in England and Wales in 2008, children's charity NSPCC said...

Six times more sex crimes were recorded against girls than against boys. The NSPCC obtained the statistics by making freedom of information requests to all of England and Wales's 43 police forces. All but Greater Manchester Police responded. This is the first time the charity has compiled the figures**.

But the NSPCC says official statistics do not provide a clear picture of how many involved children. It is now calling on the Government to collect and publish annual police data showing the number and ages of victims. The charity also wants these figures to be linked clearly to the number of convictions and other penalties that result from the recorded offences.


* The NSPCC received about £14 million in 'statutory funding' in its last financial year (see Note 3 to the accounts). This is only ten per cent of its total income but a handsome wedge nonetheless.

** If this is the first time, then the figure is meaningless as there is no comparative. Assuming it is accurate, that means that about one-in-five-hundred kids is affected by this each year, which is 20,000 individual tragedies but not much, in the grander scheme of things.

9 comments:

John B said...

which is 20,000 individual tragedies but not much, in the grander scheme of things.

I was going to say, given that this also covers the "15-year-old girl, 18-year-old boyfriend, vindictive parents, and cops with targets to meet" scenario, that 20,000 individual tragedies is probably a massive overstatement.

But actually, while we're saner about not locking kids up for this sort of thing than the Yanks (not difficult), getting a caution as a 'sex offender' when you're 18 for doing nothing wrong probably also counts as an 'individual tragedy', particularly if you want to be a teacher/policeman/enormous list of other restricted professions.

Obnoxio The Clown said...

The NSPCC is the charity that I really have the most issues with. Despite their emotive (and expensive) television advertising, I never see the fuckers actually do anything charitable.

Rest assured that when I am elected Libertarian dictator, they will be the very first quango that will have their taxpayer funding removed.

Cunts.

John Pickworth said...

Mmmm anyone care to hazard a guess how small this 'shock horror' figure becomes when the 15, 16 and 17 year old 'victims' are removed from the tally?

No I don't know either but I bet there's at least a nought knocked off the end.

Mark Wadsworth said...

Good points re age profile. The link to the press release on their website doesn't work, so I've sent them an email.

Obo, why not just cut off funding to every single charity and quango on Day One, Hour One, full stop?

John Pickworth said...

"Obo, why not just cut off funding to every single charity and quango on Day One"

Why stop at funding? I'm sure one of your Polls would elicit a list of body parts that might also be chopped off.

Mark Wadsworth said...

It's back up.

"NSPCC director of public policy Phillip Noyes said: "These shocking figures reveal just how young many of the reported victims of sex abuse are, with even one-year-olds being at risk, although the highest numbers of offences were against children in their early teens."

I'll bet you a dollar to a dime that 'early teens' includes up to 17.

As to John B's point ...

"Just over 1,000 offences by young people were recorded..."

Obnoxio The Clown said...

@Mark W: yes, but I'll make sure that the NSPCC get a five-minute head start. :o)

ScotsToryB said...

Can I refer you all to DK's latest?

http://fakecharities.org/


STB.

John B said...

"Just over 1,000 offences by young people were recorded..."

No, those'll be under 17s. The 18-year-old will be classed as an adult for these stats.