FUNDING worth £137,000 has been secured for child victims of sexual abuse in East Yorkshire.

Matthew Grove, Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner, announced the Ministry of Justice funding on Thursday, and said it will employ four advisors over the next year to work specifically with children.

Mr Grove said: “From this year I will become responsible for commissioning victims’ services across the Humberside Police area. During my research into the services, I was deeply concerned to discover there was a lack of support for child victims of sexual abuse and their families. In my Police and Crime Plan I have made the protection of children and young people a priority. They are the most vulnerable members of our society and deserve the highest level of support and care.

“Events since the Jimmy Savile scandal have highlighted appalling cases of child abuse and sexual exploitation which have been happening. In almost every case the young victims were too afraid to speak out, or were not listened to. It is vital we have structures in place to give children confidence to report their abuse, receive the care and support they need, and the reassurance their abuser will be brought to justice.”