The NSPCC is attempting to keep the media focus away from its
planned helpline for sex offenders.
The new service, aimed at preventing former sex offenders from
relapsing, is part of a raft of changes to its helplines.
But the focus of PR activity will instead concentrate on services for
child victims, such as surgery-style support and online help.
NSPCC PRO Kitsy Kinane said: 'The helpline for ex-offenders is not
something we will be actively promoting.
'The main aim is to double the number of calls from children to our
helpline. That, for us, is the priority,' she added.
At the end of February the charity is to launch a fresh promotional
campaign to encourage more at-risk children to call its helplines.
Kinane added that an estimated one in ten children suffer some form of
sexual abuse before their 16th birthday, but just 40,000 children call
the helpline each year.
