Largest increase ever in number of sexual assaults against youth reported

Central police station in Oslo.Photo: Audun Braastad / NTB scanpix

Never before have the police had  so many cases of sexual misconduct and abuse against teenagers between 14 and 16 years reported, according to the newspaper VG.

The number of reports has increased from 383 the first four months of last year, to 577 in the same period this year, the newspaper said.

– These figures also include a huge number of Internet-related cases. In several of the cases the young people start feeling  a personal connection to those they are talking to, and are often manipulated and deceived,  Head of Intelligence and Prevention in the Police Directorate, Lena Reif, said.

Adviser Kaja Hegg of Save the Children is afraid there still  are many similar incidents that go unreported, despite the fact that the number of cases being reported has increased.

– There are many  in this age group who either do not speak up or who do not know they have been abused, she says.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today