A CHARITY is expanding its services in Poundbury to meet increasing calls to help end child abuse in Dorset.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is launching a new inquiry service as part of a three-prong approach to tackle abuse of children.

The move comes as the charity officially opens its new bigger Poundbury base at Mey House in Bridport Road today.

Trish O'Donnell, NSPCC assistant children's services director for Dorset, Swindon and Wiltshire, said the charity had to respond to a higher demand for its services.

She said: "We all have to accept that child abuse is with us. Society has become more aware of it but it's hard to tell whether child abuse is getting worse or whether campaigns like ours are encouraging more people to talk about it.

"People are talking to us more and we need to respond.

"I don't feel it is happening more. I feel that children and young people are encouraged to talk more and ask for help."

The recent move to new premises brings together teams formerly based in different locations to provide more help and protection for children.

Staff will work through three services including one that focuses on children and young people who display sexually harmful behaviour.

Another team undertakes work with adults and with their partners to protect children. Mrs O'Donnell said the service was constantly being refined and developed.

The charity, which has had a presence in Dorset for 20 years, is also establishing a new tool to help children - the NSPCC Independent Enquiry and Assessment Service (IEAS).

Mrs O'Donnell said the new inquiry element would work as part of the existing assessment service to allow staff to carry out independent inquiries in cases involving someone close to the victim such as an employer or carer.

She said: "The IEAS service will allow the NSPCC to work in situations where our independence and objectivity is valued, including when the alleged offender is in a position of trust."

The new service is being launched later this year and will investigate complex abuse cases such as when there is more than one offender or victim involved.

She said the service focusing on children who show sexually harmful behaviour aimed to reduce the risk some youngsters pose to other children.

Official figures show that two years ago there were 310 children in Dorset, including Bournemouth and Poole, who were on the child protection register because they were considered to be at risk of abuse.

In the year ending last June the NSPCC helplines received 120,114 calls including 1,129 from Dorset. And police dealt with 25 cases of cruelty in Dorset last year.

Mrs O'Donnell said: "Our aim is to end all child abuse, emotional, physical and sexual. We believe we're making a difference for children."

n Children and young people can call ChildLine confidentially on 0800 1111 for help.

n Anyone with concerns about a child can call the free 24-hour Child Protection Helpline on 0808 800 5000.