Five child sex offences are reported to police EVERY HOUR because of a massive surge in online predators

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The NSPCC has found that five child sex offences are reported to the police every single hour. The results of the charity's survey after Adam Johnson (pictured) was convicted of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl

Five child sex offences are reported to the police every single hour, new figures reveal.

In a snapshot of the scale of child abuse in Britain, officers logged 45,456 cases - including rape and sexual assault – in 2014-15, a leading children’s charity has discovered.

The total was up from 31,238 recorded offences against under-18s the year before – a 45 per cent increase.

The figures relate to reported offences, rather than individual children or perpetrators. For example, one child may have been subjected to a number of assaults or attacks with each counting as an offence in the study.

The NSPCC uncovered the staggering statistics using Freedom of Information requests to the 45 police forces in the UK.

Experts say the rise was partly because victims were more willing to report sex crimes – including historical ones – and police were more likely to take complaints seriously since the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal.

But charity chiefs warned online grooming – where children are sexually exploited by manipulative adults over the internet – was becoming a major problem.

The results of the survey come less than a week after shamed Sunderland and England footballer Adam Johnson was convicted of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl. The depraved £60,000-a-week player had also admitted grooming the girl.

The NSPCC survey found that 10,757 victims were aged 10 and under, while 2,409 were too young to go to school.

The figures also reveal there were nearly four female victims (32,675) to every male (8,387).

Three police forces – Cambridgeshire, Gwent and Warwickshire – saw reported child sex abuse offences increase by more than 180 per cent.

NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said: ‘This dramatic rise is deeply worrying and shows just how extensive this appalling crime has become, claiming many victims every day, every hour.

‘Sexual abuse can shatter a child’s mental health. It can leave them anxious, depressed and even suicidal.

‘That is why it is crucial every single child who has endured abuse and needs support must get timely, thorough help so they can learn how to handle disturbing emotions and behaviours and rebuild their lives.’

A spokesman for the charity said: ‘Sex offenders grooming children online is a huge problem, and children in the UK can be targeted from anywhere in the world.

Charity chiefs warned online grooming – where children are sexually exploited by manipulative adults over the internet – was becoming a major problem (file photo)

‘Online predators may trawl social networks, online game environments and other areas popular with children to build trust with young people and exploit any vulnerabilities they discover.’

The NSPCC has launched a campaign called It’s Time, urging the Government to increase funding and to ring-fence money for support services for children who have been abused.

Chief Constable Simon Bailey, of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said: ‘These figures are another reminder of the shocking scale of child sexual abuse.

‘Changes in police recording and victims’ improved confidence in how the police will deal with abuse have played a significant part in the increase in reports to us.

‘But the internet has opened up new opportunities for abusers to groom children, view indecent images and watch and direct live sexual abuse of children.’

Experts have warned that the figures may make up only a small part of the whole picture of abuse as many children are afraid to speak up.

And a recent NSPCC report revealed some young victims said they were not believed when reporting sex crimes to police.