An astonishing 700 people across Surrey have signed a recent NSPCC petition to improve support for abused children.

The NSPCC’s It’s Time campaign calls on the government to provide more support for young people under 16 who have been sexually abused. This comes after the Office for National Statistics claimed that reported cases of abuse went up fourfold between 2012 and 2016, from 31 cases to 145.

From August: Soaring number of reported cases of sexual activity with a child in Surrey show "dark underbelly of abuse", NSPCC says

It’s Time was launched in January after two surveys showed discontent over the provision of vital services to those abused.

One of the surveys showed that 90 per cent of professionals viewed services as inadequate, and the same group viewed access to vital therapy as getting progressively more ‘difficult’ to use.

Colin Peak, Regional Head of Service for London and the South East said: “We take it for granted that the Government has data on everything that's important. But right now, they're not counting the number of children who've been abused and need support.”

Nationally almost 30,000 people have signed up to the campaign and supporters are being asked to exert pressure on MPs and Ministers in order to get funding prioritised for this vulnerable and forgotten group.

To sign the petition, visit nspcc.org.uk/campaigns