Fear for children in lockdown as cruelty cases rise

Reports of child cruelty are on the rise in Bath and North East Somerset, and charities warn things could be getting worse under lockdown.

The latest crime data from the Home Office reveals that there were 61 cases of child cruelty recorded by police in the area in 2019.

That’s the highest number ever recorded, and is up from 58 reports the year before – and more than double the 29 cases seen in 2015.

Child cruelty includes assault, ill-treatment, neglect or abandonment of a child by anyone over the age of 16, and covers both physical and psychological suffering.

In some cases this might be in the form of a single, traumatic event such as a violent attack, but more often than not the harm caused by child cruelty is the culmination of more long-term abuse or neglect.

Children’s charities are concerned about the ongoing increase in cases, and say the coronavirus lockdown has been putting families under even greater strain.

Javed Khan, chief executive of Barnardo’s, said: “This rise in child cruelty offences is concerning. It could partly be due to greater public awareness and changes in the way police record the crime but that is unlikely to be the whole story.

“We don’t yet know whether the coronavirus lockdown has resulted in more cases of child cruelty but it has led to an increase in families needing help with a wide range of challenges. Many families have been isolated from support systems and some children have not seen teachers and support workers for months. There is a very real danger of vulnerable children slipping through the cracks if they are not identified and supported.

“This is why Barnardo’s is leading a coalition of national and local charities to deliver a new service called See, Hear, Respond, which is funded by the Department for Education. We aim to reach hundreds of thousands of children who have been hidden from services, either face to face or virtually. By stepping in early we will improve their long-term outcomes and maximise their chance of a positive future.”

The figures also show that it’s rare for abusers to actually be prosecuted for child cruelty.

Of the 690 offences recorded across Avon and Somerset in 2019, just 27 ended up with the suspect being charged or summonsed – four per cent of the total.

It’s much more common for the case to be dropped altogether, either because of evidential difficulties, a suspect wasn’t identified, or because prosecution was prevented or deemed not in the public interest. Most cases saw this type of outcome, with 484 cases dropped (70 per cent).

Other outcomes can include responsibility for further investigation being transferred to another body, such as social services (12 per cent), or cases settled out of court through a caution, fine or community resolution (two per cent) – while in others the investigation is still ongoing.

Meghan Meek-o’connor, senior policy officer at the NSPCC, said: “The rise in the number of child cruelty reports to police is disturbing and it’s horrific that the children behind these figures have been exposed to this pain and suffering.

“Perpetrators must be prosecuted for wilful abuse but what is most important is that children in this situation are protected and have access to the services they need to be safe and help them recover. Sadly, we know the effects of lockdown have only increased the stresses many families are facing.”

Nationally, there were 21,163 cases of child cruelty reported to police forces across England and Wales in 2019 – again a record high. The number is up by 15 per cent from 18,388 in 2018, and has more than doubled since 2014, when there were 8,517 cases.

The NSPCC Helpline is available for adults to contact if they are concerned about a child or family on 0808 800 500 or via help@nspcc.org.uk.