COMPLAINTS about physical abuse in madrassas in Lancashire are rising, new figures reveal.

But despite 37 complaints to the authorities in the last three years, only one member of staff has been successfully prosecuted.

Madrassas are after-school classes held every night in mosques for boys and girls.

Chairman of Lancashire Council of Mosques Salim Mulla said the organisation was working hard to crack down on the issue.

According to official figures, 19 incidents of physical abuse were reported in 2010-2011.

Of those, police were called to eight, but only three led to a criminal inquiry, which resulted in one caution.

In 2009-2010, 14 complaints were logged and four in 2008-2009.

No incidents of sexual abuse have been reported since 2008-2009, where two allegations were made, However, neither led to prosecutions.

There are more than 200 madrassas in the county which are registered with Lancashire Council of Mosques.

But the chairman expressed concerns about home madrassas, which fall outside any regulations and guidelines.

The vast majority of Muslim boys and girls from primary school age upwards attend madrassas to learn the Koran.

Mr Mulla, said: “This is a big challenge for all of us.

“Whether it is one case, or 19 cases, it is still one case too many.

“We have written to all of the mosques and madrassas and have said no sort of corporal punishment should be given to children, and have implemented a no touching policy.

“We have held seminars with a criminal barrister and mosque leaders about the consequences of child abuse.

"Everyone in the mosques and madrassas are CRB checked.

“But we do have concerns about home madrassas as they have no guidelines and we don’t have a say with those.”

The county council and police have launched an initiative to ensure teachers are aware of the law on safeguarding children.