STATISTICS released by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) should be cause for serious alarm as the youngest rape and sex offence victims, as of August 30, are between the ages of two and four.
According to the ODPP, there was one two-year-old, three three-year-olds and five four-year-old victims in the past seven months.
More alarming is the rise in sex crimes against children over the past three years.
In 2015, the total number of victims of sexual offences was 138.
Of this, 87 victims were between the ages of 18 and 14 years old, 40 victims were between the ages of 13 and nine years old, 19 victims were between the ages of eight and six years-old and eight victims were five years old and below. In 2016, the total number increased to 228 victims.
Of this, 150 victims were between the ages of 18 and 14 years old, 70 victims were between 13 and nine years old, 20 victims were between eight and six years old and 12 victims were age five and below. Last year, 444 victims of sexual offences were recorded.
Of this, 130 victims were between the ages of 18 and 14 years, 72 victims were between the ages of 13 and nine years old, 27 victims were between the ages of eight and six years old and 16 victims were aged five and below.
The ODPP statistics revealed that between January to August this year, there were 150 victims of sexual offences. Of this, 99 victims were between the ages of 18 and 14 years, 62 victims were between the ages of 13 and nine years old, 26 victims were between the ages of eight and six years old and 10 victims were aged five and below.
Last year, the ODPP recorded the most number of victims for sexual offence cases compared with the past two years. Over the past four years, the ODPP has recorded a total of 960 sexual offence cases.
The ODPP began releasing statistics on sexual crimes from May 2015.
