There were 400 children raped in Philadelphia in 2009

Wonder what it was in 2010

The brutal rape of an 11-year-old girl in Kensington last week was a shock even in a crime-plagued city like Philadelphia, but, unfortunately, the victim was one of only hundreds of children to be raped in the city each year.

There were 400 children raped in Philadelphia last year and 1,032 children were the victim of other sexual offenses.

Even worse, police warn the statistics do not tell the whole story, considering that sexual offenses are nationally one of the most underreported crimes.

 

“Unlike homicides or shootings, there are many more variables behind sex assault,” said Capt. John Darby, head of the police Special Victims Unit. “It may be that more cases are reported because there’s more awareness. Generally speaking, since I’ve been here in the unit … the numbers don’t change.”