MORE than 550 children were victims of sex crimes in Herts and Cambs last year.

The figures came to light after an investigation by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for Children with the juveniles subject to rape, incest and abuse through prostitution in 2010/11.

In Hertfordshire there were 150 victims with the majority of them aged between 11-17 however 24 of the victims in Hertfordshire had not reached secondary school and four were five or younger.

There were over 400 in Cambs during the same period with 379 of the victims girls compared to just 60 boys.

Dan Russell, regional head of service for north London and east of England at the NSPCC, said: “The NSPCC is doing what it can by using information like this from the police to tailor our treatment services- different approaches are needed depending on the age of the child.”

NSPCC obtained the information through freedom of information requests.