AN average of just under eight new cases of child sexual offences each day, equating to one almost every three hours, are being recorded in West Yorkshire, according to new figures.

And children's charity the NSPCC is now pressuring the government to provide funding for specialist police training and early intervention to help children recover.

Using Freedom of Information requests from the police the charity discovered that in 2015/2016, 2,904 cases were recorded in West Yorkshire, a rise of 633 from the year before which reached 2,271 reports.

Police recorded crimes against children that included rape, sexual assault, and sexual exploitation.

They are more than half the total cases for Yorkshire as a whole which recorded 5,387 last year - an average of nearly 15 a day. The previous year's figure was 4,472.

Bradford South MP Judith Cummins said she applauded the charity's drive to get more cash into the system.

She said: “I welcome the NSPCC’s call for more resources to tackle child sexual exploitation. "This is entirely in line with my campaign to secure more Government funding for the police to make sure they can properly address the varied challenges they face, including CSE. Sadly the police, and local councils, have less and less money to do so.

"One child exploited is one too many, but this is something our police and council take very seriously so we must make sure they have the resources they need to tackle this abuse."

And Philip Davies, MP for Shipley added: “The figures recorded by police regarding child sex offences are deeply concerning. People are rightly disgusted by these offences and the NSPCC is absolutely right to be asking that these vulnerable children are afforded our top priority.

"They are also almost certainly right to say that these figures may just be the tip of the iceberg and we must leave no stone unturned in protecting children and also properly punishing offenders.”

In further uncomfortable reading, in Yorkshire a total of 1,617 crimes were recorded against children aged 10 years and under, while 369 of these crimes were perpetrated against children four and under, some of whom would be too young to even attend primary school.

The charity states the total number of sex offences committed is unknown, as more children may not yet have come forward.

It is now calling for specialist training for police investigating online child abuse, effective rehabilitation for child sex offenders, and investment in early intervention services to help children recover.

It has also gone as far as saying it wants additional funding spent on effective rehabilitation for child sex offenders.

NSPCC head of region Yorkshire and the Humber Fiona Richards said: “This steep rise lays bare just how extensive this appalling crime against children has become, claiming multiple victims every hour, some of whom are yet to say their first word.

“Sexual abuse can shatter a child’s life and leave them feeling ashamed, depressed, or even suicidal. Now, more than ever, victims need help as soon as possible to help them recover from their ordeals and go on to lead full and happy lives.

“Government must commit funds to early intervention that better help these children who through no fault of their own are enduring so much pain.”

The NSPCC believes a number of reasons could explain the dramatic increase: Police forces improving recording methods; survivors feeling more confident in disclosing abuse following high-profile cases, and online grooming becoming a major problem with predators reaching multiple children.

The Bradford Child Sexual Exploitation Hub, which includes the police, Council and other services, held an awareness event in City Park on March 17.

Councillor Val Slater, who leads on child protection at Bradford Council, said the event was “an important way of getting the message across to everyone about child sexual exploitation and that it is something we do not tolerate".

There were 55,507 cases reported across UK (49,330 in England and Wales, a 19 per cent increase from the year 2014/15).

It means nationally, the police are recording on average a case of child sexual abuse every 10 minutes.