More than 860 calls made to the NSPCC football abuse helpline in first week – TRIPLE the number made to the Jimmy Savile line in the same period
The NSPCC says in the first three days, 60 referrals were made to police or children's services - compared to 17 in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal
FOOTBALL abuse claims made to the dedicated NSPCC hotline were more than triple the amount made in the first three days of the Jimmy Savile scandal, the charity has revealed.
More than 860 calls had been made to the helpline in the first week of the hotline being launched on November 23 to support victims of child sex abuse in football.
In the first three days, 60 referrals were made to police or children's services - compared to 17 in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.
NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said: “The number of high profile footballers bravely speaking out about their ordeal has rightly caught the attention of the entire country.
“We have had a staggering surge in calls to our football hotline which reveals the worrying extent of abuse that had been going on within the sport."
It comes as more than a quarter of UK police forces are now investigating the historic child sex abuse claims.
Avon and Somerset, Essex, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, North Wales and Dorset constabularies are the latest to confirm they are probing allegations - bringing the total to 13.
Speaking in the House of Lords, Baroness Chisholm said 250 people had contacted police in England and Wales alone over recent days.
And more than 50 calls were made to an NSPCC hotline set up for sexual abuse victims in football in the initial hours of opening.
A spokesman for Norfolk Police confirmed they are "investigating an allegation relating to child abuse within football", but said they are in the "early stages" and "cannot comment further".
Chief Constable Simon Bailey added: "We are aware that the NSPCC and some police forces have received a number of calls alleging non recent child abuse within football clubs.
"Through Operation Hydrant we will work closely with the NSPCC and the Football Association to coordinate the police response to these reports."
Essex Police also confirmed they had received information "relating to allegations of non-recent child abuse within the football community" and said the claims would be "reviewed and investigated accordingly".
North Wales Police Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Williams said they are "in receipt of a number of reports of non-recent sexual abuse within a football setting".
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He added: "We are currently working with the national centre, Operation Hydrant, to ensure our response is co-ordinated and efficient; the people who have courageously reported what happened to them are central in our considerations in this regard."
More than 20 former players have now spoken out about alleged abuse, including former Newcastle United footballer Derek Bell.
He told how he turned up at his abuser’s house with a 12 inch knife and wanted to stab him to death.
Bell said he was abused hundreds of times by his coach George Ormond when he played for Montagu and North Fenham boys football club in the 1970s.
Ormond was jailed for six years in 2002 for sex attacks he carried out over a 24-year period.
The national child abuse inquiry headed by Professor Alexis Jay is considering whether to investigate abuse in football as part of its overarching probe, Culture Secretary Karen Bradley told MPs.
FA chairman Greg Clarke has admitted he cannot be sure whether historical abuse in football had been covered up, and has described the scandal as "the biggest crisis" he has ever seen the sport face.
A number of football clubs have become embroiled in the scandal, with Chelsea announcing they have retained a law firm to carry out an investigation concerning one of the club's 1970s employees, who is now dead.
The NSPCC helpline for adults who were victims of sexual abuse in childhood within the football industry" which can be contacted at all hours on 0800 023 2642.