'Friends' star David Schwimmer feels problem of child abuse in UK underestimated

David Schwimmer believes that the problem of child sex abuse is severely underestimated in the UK.

The Friends star is supporting the NSPCC in setting up US-style refuges for sexually abused children to give victims access to all the services they need in one place, reported Digital Spy.

"I have several friends, both men and women, who are victims of child sexual abuse," Schwimmer said on Good Morning Britain. "As a father of a 5-year-old daughter, the entire subject matter is more emotional and more meaningful to me."

One in 20 children are thought to be victims of sexual abuse in the UK, but the actor thinks that figure is inaccurate.

"In the States, figures are very different and are closer to the truth. One in four girls, and one in six boys," he said.