Cops say 350 victims have reported child sex abuse by footie coaches – with one force alone identifying TEN suspects
National Police Chiefs' Council say a 'significant' amount of calls had been made to police after scandal emerged
AROUND 350 people have come forward to say they were sexually abused as children by youth football coaches in Britain, with one police force alone identifying TEN suspects.
The National Police Chief’s Council said a “significant” amount of calls had been made to police following revelations from a string of ex-footballers, including England internationals that began to emerge last week.
Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the NPCC's lead for child protection said: "We are working closely with the Football Association to ensure that the response to this significant and growing number of victims, at all levels of football, is co-ordinated effectively."
The BBC said the NPCC's figures were based on existing investigations as well as a new helpline set up by British charity the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).
The NSPCC said the helpline had received 860 calls in its first week, enabling it to refer 60 cases to police or social services within three days of the hotline launching.
Bailey encouraged anyone with information about child abuse in football to come forward.
"We continue to encourage those who have been the victim of child sexual abuse to report it, regardless of how long ago the abuse may have taken place," he said.
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Fifteen police forces across Britain are now investigating cases that have made daily headlines in the country over the past two weeks.
Today Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said it was investigating reports from 35 victims and has identified 10 suspects.
GMP's Assistant Chief Constable Debbie Ford, said: “We have received a number of calls from victims and those with concerns and on a daily basis the investigation is growing. We are currently in the process of speaking to victims in person and providing them with specialist support."
The figures come as Chelsea became the latest club to be implicated in the growing scandal.
They have been accused of making a secret payment to an ex-youth player to keep his silence over sex abuse claims against former chief scout.
The Premier League side are alleged to have paid off the victim within the last three years after he threatened to go public about being abused by the club’s former chief scout, Eddie Heath.
It is alleged the payment was made in the last three years and on condition that the victim, his family and lawyers were banned from talking about the abuse claims. The report adds that the club did not accept liability.
The investigation concerns Heath, who is now deceased, who worked as a chief scout for the club in the 1970s.
The club did not deny the claim that they had paid Heath’s accuser and settled the case.
Heath, who had died before the allegation was made, was Chelsea’s chief scout from 1968 to 1979.
Eight police forces are now looking into allegations of historical abuse in football.
There have been 250 reports to police and 50-plus calls were made in the opening hours of an NSPCC football abuse line.
Former football coach Barry Bennell has been charged with eight offences against a boy aged under 14.
Five former youth players have publicly alleged they were abused by Bennell as youth team players.
He was rushed to hospital after a suspected suicide bid last week.
Police and paramedics called to a “fear for welfare” incident at a hotel found him unconscious.
Mark Williams, Andy Woodward, Paul Stewart, David White and Steve Walters are the players to have publicly accused the former Crewe Alexander youth coach.
The 62-year-old former youth coach, jailed three times for abuse, was taken to hospital where he is still being treated.
He is understood to have been found not breathing at the Novotel Hotel in Stevenage, Herts., on Friday night.
Bennell is set to appear at South Cheshire Magistrates Court on December 14.
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