CHILD sexual abuse is under-reported in York and too many youngsters are experiencing domestic abuse, according to a new report.

The City of York Safeguarding Children Board's annual report has outlined its priorities for the next year, and made pledges to improve the city's response and assistance offered to children and families.

The board's priorities for this year included domestic abuse, child sexual exploitation, and trying to ensure children and families are offered help and support as early as possible.

"Whilst child sexual exploitation remains a priority, the CYSCB believes that child sexual abuse is underreported with reviews telling us that professionals need a better understanding of sexual abuse," said the report.

"The CYSCB recognises that there are still too many children living in families where there is domestic abuse. We also know that domestic abuse can be an indicator for neglect and has a long lasting impact on children and will often coexist with other forms of abuse."

The report said 49 allegations were made against childcare professionals in the last year, 42 per cent of the allegations related to sexual abuse, 36 per cent related to physical mistreatment, and more than a third of these were substantiated by the board. Of the allegations, 11 per cent were deemed "unfounded", meaning something had happened that had been "misunderstood or misinterpreted".

The report also pledged to focus on child neglect and missing children.

It said: "The CYSCB identified child neglect as a priority in the thematic review in 2012. However, despite some progress the findings of audits and reviews means that considerably more needs to be done if children are going to be protected from the long-term damaging effect of neglect.

"Children who go missing from home, care and education are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. We also know that children go missing for a reason; often due to difficulties at home or in care. From the data, too many children go missing in York and that there is a need to improve the way all agencies respond. This may also be an indicator of neglect."