CHILD neglect and cruelty offences have increased in the Thames Valley by seven per cent in three years, police have said.

Children's charity NSPCC, released new analysis of police data for the whole of the UK, which reveals that there were 23,529 offences recorded by forces in 2019/20.

In Thames Valley, local police figures show a rise of seven per cent in the last three years.

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Although there are significant variations between different regions and nations, overall the analysis finds an increase of 53 per cent compared to 2016/17, and more than double the total in 2013/14.

The NSPCC also examined the number of offences that took place in the first three months of the spring lockdown and found that 5,476 child cruelty and neglect offences were recorded by police from April 1, to the June 30 this year.

The NSPCC has issued the findings as part of a warning that children may be at risk of abuse this Christmas and that everyone needs to play their part in keeping young people safe.