POLICE have questioned a three-year-old child on suspicion of sexually assaulting other children.
Officers from Durham Police spoke to the toddler after allegation it took part in sexual activity with children aged five and seven.
The news emerged after it was revealed that 1,047 children were interviewed by police over sexual activity last year.
The number of cases has doubled in the last three years.
The latest number of cases into illegal sexual activity between children was in South Yorkshire, with 172 cases in 2015.
And in South Wales, West Mercia and West Yorkshire, children aged five and under were identified as criminal suspects.
Barnardo’s chief executive Javed Khan said: “Children abusing other children is deeply worrying.
“They’re getting distorted ideas from images online or, tragically, because they’ve been abused themselves.”
Jim Gamble, head of child protection firm Ineqe, told The Sun on Sunday: “I suspect the figures are the tip of an iceberg. Children are now at risk not only from online predators and street grooming gangs but from other children too.”
