NSPCC reveals nine in 10 adults in Scotland are concerned about child abuse – as charity calls on political parties to prioritise children’s safety
- 87% adults in Scotland are concerned about child abuse and neglect
- Yet 86% think child abuse and neglect can be prevented
- NSPCC calling for all political parties in next Scottish Government to work together to prevent child abuse and neglect
Almost nine in 10 adults (87%) in Scotland are concerned about the risk of abuse and neglect facing children but 86% of those who expressed an opinion believe it can be prevented, a new NSPCC survey has revealed.
The Savanta poll of over 1,000 adults in Scotland also found that the majority (54%) believe the risk to children is greater than when they were growing up.
When asked to select the greatest risk facing children, over a third (34%) named online harms and more than one in four (27%) cited poverty and lack of basic resources.
NSPCC Scotland is publishing this data as part of its call to all political parties to work together to prevent child abuse and neglect to improve the lives of babies, children and families in Scotland ahead of the Scottish Parliament election in May.
The NSPCC recognises that Scotland has long aspired to give all children the best possible start in life. Yet too often child protection is only prioritised in response to distressing revelations of abuse, neglect, sexual exploitation and death.
The charity believes that children are being failed by fragmented early years policy, overstretched social work services, rising online harms and inconsistent access to healthy relationships education.
In the charity’s recent survey, respondents’ views on how best to address child abuse and neglect included, improve coordination between police, schools, health services and social care in protecting children, and the following:
- Better public awareness to help educate adults about the signs of child abuse and how to report it
- Better education for children on identifying abuse and knowing how to get help
- Improve training for teachers, health-workers and other frontline professionals in identifying and responding to child sexual abuse
Joanne Smith, NSPCC Scotland policy and public affairs manager, said: “All children have the right to a safe, happy, and healthy childhood.
“Scotland has long aspired to take a preventative approach, but we haven’t made the sustained investment or put in place the strong, lasting governance that’s needed to lead and coordinate this work and turn our shared ambition for children into reality.
“We now have the opportunity to change that. We need to build systems that identify risk early, support families before crisis, and protect children both online and offline.
“Our 5‑Point Plan for Prevention offers a roadmap that the next government can implement from day one. Preventing child abuse and neglect should be a national priority, and long-term commitment, that we invest in.
“We cannot afford to fail another generation of children.”
The charity’s 5‑Point Plan for Prevention calls for the next Scottish Government to:
Invest in babies and very young children to ensure every baby receives consistent, universal services, with early identification of families who need additional specialist support, re-establish early years as a cross-party priority, with a clear focus on parent–infant relationships.
Strengthen the child protection system to improve support for families who are carrying the heaviest load and listen to frontline social workers to understand gaps and pressures. Develop specialist, multi-disciplinary, preventative child protection teams in every area, and introduce a national digital ‘single unique identifier’ to track decisions and progress and ensure continuity and accountability across services. Also, deliver a National Social Work Agency that gives social workers the time, space, tools and confidence to offer early support to vulnerable families with very young children.
Prevent child sexual abuse by taking a public health approach by improving data on the scale and nature of sexual abuse and exploitation against children in Scotland, urgently address the downward trend in recorded concerns about child sexual abuse within social work statistics and design and resource a child protection system that can identify and respond to child sexual abuse.
Keep children safe online by ensuring early years, education, child protection, the voluntary sector and law enforcement work together with clear leadership from the next Scottish Government on prevention and recovery efforts. Consult with children and use this to design online safety policy. Set up a Strategic AI Advisory Group to provide expert advice to Ministers to ensure child safety and equality in all national activity related to AI.
Make healthy relationships education mandatory – as it is an opportunity to make sure that all children and young people know that they have a right to be treated, and responsibility to treat others, with dignity and respect. It can help pupils recognise healthy and unhealthy behaviour, and it helps protect children and young people from abuse.
For more information, visit NSPCC five-point plan.
NSPCC Scotland is urging any adult that has concerns about a child to contact the charity’s helpline or reach out to the relevant local authorities. Adults who are concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline by calling 0808 800 5000, or email: help@NSPCC.org.uk
Young people looking for support on any of the issues mentioned, can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit Childline.org.uk. Childline is available to all young people until their 19th birthday.
