Date: 17th May 2006
Released by: ANDREW TURNER

<%=picture("press20060517.jpg","Andrew Turner and Sir Christopher Kelly at the launch of the 'Don't Hide It' campaign","outline","220","right")%>Island MP, Andrew Turner joined the NSPCC’s Chairman, Sir Christopher Kelly, at the launch of its ‘Don’t Hide it’ campaign yesterday calling on the Government to ensure that local therapeutic services are available for all children who have suffered sexual abuse. Andrew Turner joined other MPs in an effort to highlight the need for such services and to call on the Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt to take action.

Andrew Turner said

"Half the children contacting Childline report that they have been raped by someone known to them, but we also know that many such assaults go unreported. The therapeutic work of the NSPCC is therefore enormously important. But we also need to recognize the importance of preventative work, which reduces the danger of young people being exploited both by their elders and by their peers. That should also be taken very seriously both by statutory and voluntary services."

It has been estimated that 90 per cent of children known to have suffered sexual abuse currently do not receive support.

NSPCC Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Diana Sutton, said:

2Children who are being sexually abused suffer enormous harm. We want the government to ensure that children everywhere have full access to therapeutic services. To help achieve this, we call for a detailed analysis of current provision and a fully funded delivery plan, at both national and local level."

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Contact: Andrew Turner 01983 530808 <% server.execute "..\commonend.asp" %>