True assaults figure likely to be higher

The sex attacks comprise a small proportion of police files on child abuse, which recorded 62 such cases in June and July alone.

There were 35 indecent assaults on children under 16 in June and 27 in July.

A police spokesman said the true figure was likely to be higher, with the age of some victims listed as 'unknown' due to the sensitive nature of the cases.

The files do not include rape or incest figures, which are usually low.

While there was no gender breakdown on the 62 cases, the spokesman said most involved young girls.

However, among the eight attacks in Eastern during the past two months, four were on boys.