THE number of sexual offences recorded against children in Bolton has more than doubled in the past three years, new figures reveal.

Statistics show there were 325 sexual offences against children recorded in Bolton from March 1 last year to February 28 this year.

This compares with 198 offences recorded between March 1 in 2013 to February 28 in 2014, and 139 offences between March 1 in 2012 to February 28 in 2013.

The figures, which were obtained by The Bolton News using the Freedom of Information Act, show an increase of 133 per cent over the past three years.

The Home Office's definition of sexual offences includes rape, attempted rape, sexual exposure and voyeurism.

Police chiefs have said the increase in offences reported shows that victims are more confident to come forward and report crimes, especially in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal, as well as other high profile convictions including former TV weatherman Fred Talbot and former DJ Ray Teret.

It is unclear how many of the offences included in the figures related to historic offences, but police say reports of historical cases of child sexual abuse have increased dramatically since these cases.

Ch Supt Shaun Donnellan, Bolton's most senior police officer, said the figures show that there is more trust in the reporting system.

He said: "I can say to people in Bolton that children are not in more risk than in the last three years.

"We have the Jimmy Savile effect, where people are more confident to come forward, and we provide better care to people who are brave enough to come forward.

"There is more trust in the process now — people are much more confident."

An investigation by Stockport MP Ann Coffey last year revealed that child sex exploitation had risen in Bolton by 21 per cent the previous year, with police investigating 91 separate cases.

Police and crime commissioner Tony Lloyd, who commissioned the investigation, said the figures revealed by The Bolton News show more victims are having the bravery to come forward.

He said: "High profile convictions such as Ray Teret and Fred Talbot, as well as the many less well known cases, have shown victims and the public that all cases will be properly investigated and police will pursue offenders to bring them, where possible, before our courts.

“We all have a role to play in protecting our children and young people.

"In Bolton, the increasingly effective partnership between the police, Bolton Council, the NHS, schools, voluntary organisations, other agencies and the community is there to identify, safeguard and support victims of child sexual exploitation and target those who prey on the vulnerable.

“There is a still a way to go and there are still many victims suffering in silence.

"In Bolton we remain committed to listening to and supporting victims and survivors and encouraging people to speak out.

"By working together we can offer better safeguards against child abuse."

Det Ch Supt Vanessa Jardine, who is in charge of Greater Manchester Police's sex crime unit, added: "Over the past three years we have seen an overall increase in reports of sexual offences against both children and adults.

"This does not necessarily indicate a rise in offences, rather a rise in the number of victims coming forward.

"There have been significant improvements in the way that police record such crimes and an increased awareness by victims in regards to offences which may have been committed against them.

"It is this increased awareness that can encourage people to have the confidence to come forward, and report both historic and current incidents of abuse.

"I believe that these rises in cases reported are a direct result of that increased confidence and understanding rather than an increase of offences actually being committed."