Nearly 150 crimes were recorded by the NSPCC since 2013, with 17 reports in the Thames Valley region

Offences involving professionals such as teachers, care staff and youth justice workers targeting young people in their care are on the rise.

Nearly 150 crimes were recorded since 2013, with 17 reports in the Thames Valley region.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC's) #TrustToLead campaign is urging Westminster to extend the law to cover all adults who have regular contact with children.

NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said: “It is hard to believe that the law protects 16- and 17-year-old children from being preyed upon in the classroom, but not on the sports pitch or on the stage.

“We know that some adult youth workers spend years grooming young people and then, as soon as their 16th birthday comes around, they target them for sex.

“Extending Position of Trust laws to sports coaches is an important step in the right direction which will help protect more children from this kind of abuse.

“But to stop there would be a missed opportunity. Government must close this loophole to protect children from other adults who use their authority to exploit them.”

Across England and Wales there was an 82 per cent rise over the four years, with nearly 1,000 abuses of position of trust since 2014.

The current loophole means adults in regular contact with children in extra-curricular activities are able to groom them from a young age and abuse that trusting relationship to have sexual contact as soon as the child turns 16.