http://www.cypnow.co.uk/bulletin/cypnow_daily/article/1066820/nspcc-abuse-referrals-hit-record-high/
Grandparents are exceptional for early detection of abuse.
By Janaki Mahadevan Thursday, 21 April 2011
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Calls to the NSPCC helpline reporting suspected child abuse and neglect have reached record levels, the charity has revealed.
Biggest increase in referrals was for neglect. Image: NSPCC/posed by model
Between April 2010 and March 2011, counsellors working on the helpline referred 16,385 serious cases to police or social services. This is 37 per cent higher than the previous year and the biggest recorded annual increase in referrals.
The NSPCC is now calling for a major shift in UK child protection policy towards earlier and more effective intervention in child cruelty cases.
John Cameron, head of the helpline, said: "The increase in referrals over the past year shows more people want to play their part in keeping children safe. We refer only the most serious cases to local agencies for further investigation. More than one in three of these cases involve families previously unknown to local authorities.
"We must pick up on children's problems as early as we can to stop their abuse. Social workers cannot be in the community all the time, but members of the public can be their eyes and ears."
Last year, the NSPCC made 12,296 referrals regarding suspected child cruelty following contacts from neighbours and members of the public – up 4,588 from the previous year.
Other people contacting the helpline included parents, other family members and professionals such as teachers or health workers.
The biggest increase in referrals was for neglect, which rose by 81 per cent to 6,438 cases. Other referrals included 4,113 for physical abuse, 1,520 cases of sexual abuse and 2,932 cases of emotional abuse.
