by Alan Quick

FOLLOWING ongoing and widespread publicity surrounding allegations of child sexual abuse within football, many police forces across the country have received reports of allegations and information on this matter.

Detective Inspector Andrea Kingdon from Devon and Cornwall Police Public Protection Unit said: “Devon and Cornwall Police have been approached and we will be investigating.

"We would like to reassure any victim of any form of abuse that if you find the courage to come forward to us, that you will be believed and you will be supported.

“Do not suffer the burden of abuse in silence, please reach out to us.”

If you wish to report abuse, you can contact the police by telephone on 101 or by email: [email protected] .

You can also contact the NSPCC on 0800 023 2642 or via the website: nspcc.org.uk .

To date more than 350 victims have reported child sexual abuse within UK football clubs, police chiefs have said.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council said a "significant number of calls" had been received after several former players alleged past abuse by coaches.

Its figures are also based on details from existing investigations as well as referrals from a new NSPCC helpline.

The NSPCC says more than 860 people have called its dedicated football hotline, set up just two weeks ago.

Within the first three days of it launching, the charity made more than 60 referrals to a range of agencies across the UK.

That was more than three times as many referrals as in the first three days of the Jimmy Savile scandal, the charity added.

The Football Association has announced an internal review and a number of football clubs are conducting their own inquiries.

Outlining the police action to date, NSPCC lead for Child Protection, Chief Constable Simon Bailey said the number of victims was "an indicative figure only", and with information still being collated numbers could change.

He said some of the cases being investigated had come from information supplied by forces across the UK to Operation Hydrant, set up in 2014 to oversee investigations into historical child sex abuse concerning prominent people.

"We are working closely with the Football Association to ensure the response to this significant and growing number of victims, at all levels of football, is co-ordinated effectively," he added.

"We continue to encourage those who have been the victim of child sexual abuse to report it, regardless of how long ago the abuse may have taken place."

He said all reports would be treated "sensitively and seriously".

Guidance for clubs can be found on the NSPCC website.