A NUMBER of shocking court cases in the past few years have highlighted the awful fact that sex abusers often have a history of showing inappropriate behaviour from a young age.

It is also true that a significant number of child sex assault victims go on to become sex abusers themselves.

So it is sad to read in today’s report by the Probation Inspectorate that schools and social services are not acting on warning signs over the sexual behaviour of children who later go on to abuse other youngsters.

Lancashire’s youth offending team was one of seven visited by the inspectorate for the study.

The inspectorate’s chief said a third of cases examined had come to the notice of schools or social services previously but concerns “were not acted on, dismissed, minimised or ignored.”

This is described as “a lost opportunity both for the children themselves and their potential victims”.

Times are tough financially for teachers and social services but that is no excuse.

Acting to stop child abuse should be at the top of every priority list.