Recorded child cruelty and neglect offences in Scotland rose by more than a quarter in the last year, the NSPCC reports. There were 818 child cruelty and neglect offences recorded in Scotland in 2018/19 and 640 recorded in 2017/18 – a 28 per cent increase.
The charity has analysed police data for the whole of the UK and found there were 20,024 offences recorded by police across the country in the last year.
Reports to police included extreme cases of when parents or carers deliberately neglected, assaulted, abandoned or exposed their child to serious harm and unnecessary suffering.
To raise awareness of child neglect and abuse the NSPCC has launched its Light For Every Childhood Christmas Appeal.
The NSPCC Christmas Appeal is calling for donations so it can be there for children suffering from neglect and abuse at Christmas and all year round.
The charity’s Childline service is the only service there for children 24/7 during the upcoming festive period, but it needs support for 2020 and beyond.
On Sunday, the SSE Hydro, in Glasgow, will be lighting up in the charity’s trademark green in support of the campaign.
There are several potential reasons for the rise in child cruelty and neglect crimes, from better police recording, increasing pressure on families and cuts in funding making it harder for local authorities to offer early intervention services that tackle the causes of neglect.
In addition, recorded police offences of this type don’t reveal the full picture of neglect in the UK, because local authorities will step in before many of these cases are reported as a crime. In 2017/18 there were 1,044 children in Scotland on a child protection plan or register for concerns involving neglect.
Matt Forde, national head of service for NSPCC Scotland, said: “Greater public awareness and improvements in police recording could be factors in this increase, but deeper societal issues such as increasing pressure on parents and a lack of investment in early intervention and support services, are leaving more children vulnerable and exposed to pain and suffering.
“Whatever the reasons for the rise, cruelty to children is never ok and it is vital that they always have a place they can go to seek help and support, day and night. Childline never stops and never sleeps, but for this to continue we need the public’s support and to back our ‘Light for Every Childhood’ Appeal.”
Just £3 pays for Childline to answer a call with a neglected or abused child, to donate visit the NSPCC website.
Adults concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline seven days a week on 0808 800 5000, or email help@nspcc.org.uk
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