The number of people found guilty of sexual offences against children under the age of 18 rose by more than 500 between 2005 and 2007, it emerged tonight.
Figures from the Ministry of Justice showed 1,866 people were convicted for sexual offences against under-18s in 2007 compared to 1,351 in 2005 - a rise of 515 or 38%.
The 2007 number was up 102 on the previous year, when 1,764 people were found guilty of the same offences.
Junior justice minister Maria Eagle gave the figures in a written parliamentary answer to Liberal Democrat Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset and Poole North).
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