Access to online pornography is leading to thousands of sexual offences in schools, an investigation has found.
A leading children’s charity believes that children are increasingly viewing pornography and may be “copying sexual activity they have witnessed”.
Last month, Channel 4 faced criticism after it aired a TV show featuring schoolchildren writing a pornography film script as part of a sex education class.
Offences
Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that more than 5,500 sex offences in UK schools have been reported to the police over the last three years.
Around 1,500 of the victims were under the age of 13. The offences included more than 600 rapes and nearly 4,000 indecent assaults.
Some of the victims and perpetrators were as young as five.
Disturbing
The head of sexual abuse programmes at the NSPCC, Jon Brown, blamed pornography:
We know that for some older children, accessing hardcore pornography is warping their view of what is acceptable behaviour.
Jon Brown
“These figures are very disturbing, especially as many victims are so young and the reported offences took place on school premises.
“We know that for some older children, accessing hardcore pornography is warping their view of what is acceptable behaviour.
“And those of primary school age or even younger may be copying sexual activity they have witnessed.”
Tip of the iceberg
The head of child protection at the National Police Chiefs’ Council, Chief Constable Simon Bailey, said: “I believe these figures are the tip of the iceberg.”
Exposure to pornography in school caused concern last month when Channel 4 broadcast a controversial sex education programme.
“Sex in Class” saw 13 teenagers aged 15 and 16 at a school in Lancashire taking part in lessons taught by former Miss Belgium, Goedele Liekens.
Inappropriate
Revd Kevin Logan, whose former parish of Christchurch includes the school, said: “This programme is inappropriate. If I had been the headteacher or chairman of governors I would not have allowed it.”
And local council leader Miles Parkinson expressed “concerns about the suitability” of the lessons.