Child cruelty and neglect crimes double over five years

• Police record nearly 17,000 cases of parents deliberately neglecting, mistreating or assaulting their children in the last year
• NSPCC running ‘Light For Every Childhood’ Christmas Appeal to raise awareness of child neglect
• Houses of Parliament and other UK landmarks light up green in supportCHILD cruelty and neglect offences in the UK have doubled over the last five years, the NSPCC has revealed.In Wales, 478 crimes were logged by the four forces last year, rising from 291 over the same period.Reports to the police included extreme cases of when a parent or carer wilfully assaulted, ill-treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed their child to serious harm.Last night [Mon 3 Dec], the Houses of Parliament became the latest UK landmark to show their support by lighting up in the charity’s trademark green.
• The amount of police offences is mirrored by the number of calls made to the NSPCC helpline – totalling 19,937 last year about children suffering neglect – with three quarters referred urgently to police or children’s services.
• To raise awareness of child neglect – the most common type of abuse affecting children in the UK – the NSPCC has launched its ‘Light For Every Childhood’ Christmas Appeal.
• The highest number of offences in 2017/18 were recorded by Gwent Police (145), followed by Dyfed-Powys (136), South Wales (123) and North Wales (74).
• There were 16,939 child cruelty and neglect offences recorded by police in 2017/18, up from 7,965 in 2012/13.
• Monday 3 December

Many of these concerns were so serious that they were referred to agencies including local authorities and the police, including 726 to agencies in Wales.

During the 12 days of Christmas – 24 December 2017 to 4 January 2018 – the NSPCC helpline made 22 referrals to agencies based in Wales where the person was concerned about a child in relation to neglect.

Des Mannion, the head of NSPCC Cymru/Wales, said: “It’s unclear exactly why the number of child neglect and cruelty offences has risen so dramatically, but greater public awareness and improvements in how police record offences could be factors along with deeper societal issues.

“Whatever the reasons for the increase child neglect is everybody’s problem and we all need to be aware of vulnerable children and be ready to report it to the NSPCC or the authorities if we are concerned for their safety or wellbeing.

“We are appealing to the generous nature of the public to support our ‘Light For Every Childhood’ Christmas Appeal to help us be there for even more young people in need.”

One NSPCC helpline practitioner recalls a recent referral she made to the police.

Tracey Hamer, NSPCC helpline practitioner said: “The police went out to do a welfare check, and later told me that mum had been found unwell and violently vomiting and unable to care for her little girl, who was three years old.

“The house was in a state of disrepair and the kitchen worktops were covered in dirty crockery with mould on them. The washing machine was broken, and mum said that water would come up through the pipes when she tried to use it so she couldn’t clean any clothes.”

Recorded police offences of this type reveal only a small part of the picture as social workers work with families when parents cannot meet the needs of their child, and put a plan in place to prevent issues from escalating.

Last year there were 27, 856 children in the UK on a child protection plan or register for concerns involving neglect, with 1,270 residing in Wales.

The NSPCC Christmas Appeal is calling for donations to its helpline – which is open throughout the holidays – so it can be there for children suffering from neglect at Christmas and all year round.

Just £5 pays for the Helpline to answer a call about child neglect, 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.