BINGE-drinking teenage boys are to blame for a worrying rise in sex assaults on young girls, police say.
Humberside Police figures show the number of sex attacks where the offender and victim are both under 18 are increasing at a rapid rate.
Now, Assistant Chief Constable Alan Leaver has said more must be done to tackle the issue.
He said: "There is one common factor to be found in both suspects and victim and that is alcohol consumption.
"We have a real issue with adolescent boys in the age group of 16 to 21-year-olds, who consume alcohol and then behave inappropriately to young women and don't understand where the boundaries are.
"They seem to disregard the wishes and feelings of these young girls. There is a real culture of it."
In 2012, there were 54 reports, including rape, sexual assault and indecent exposure, but this had risen to 147 the following year. By July this year, there had already been 119 offences recorded.
Reports of violent crime among children have also increased.
In 2012, there were 238 reports, rising to 483 the following year.
There had been 490 offences recorded by July this year.
Of the sexual offences since 2012, 26 took place in schools and of the violent offences, which include affray, actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm, 142 offences were in school.
Mr Leaver said 20 per cent of the offences classed as violent crimes were "cyber-crimes" such as sending abusive messages via social media.
He said he does not believe children are becoming "more violent", instead blaming the increase on parents reporting trivial incidents more often.
But he acknowledged increased awareness was not solely accountable for the rise in sexual abuse.
"We shouldn't get carried away thinking children are kicking and knocking lumps out of each other in ways they weren't before," he said.
"But more concerning, there has been a rise in serious sexual offences that cannot be accounted for entirely by reporting procedures.
"We need to do some serious work around raising this as an issue with young men, who think they are invincible and can do anything and behave any way they like.
"Fundamentally, they know it is wrong and it is never the victim's fault when this happens."
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'Working closely to safeguard young people' Mil Vasic, director for children and families services at Hull City Council, said: "We recognise there is increased awareness of these types of crime due to the publicity surrounding recent public enquires, but also concerns about sexual abuse more broadly.
"It is understandable this will lead to an increase in the number of people reporting.
In addition, the successful prosecution of a number of high-profile cases has given confidence to victims to come forward, which we welcome.
"The understanding of sexual abuse by Hull City Council and its partners means we are working together more closely to safeguard young people.
"For example, all primary and secondary schools are part of the Safer Schools Partnership, which aims to provide a safe and secure school environment, tackling antisocial behaviour and preventing bullying and improving e-safety."
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