Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Adults use helpline to report NI slavery
Also calls about neglect and abuse of children ‘I feared kids were at risk..’
WORRIED adults in Northern Ireland have contacted an NSPCC helpline to report cases of suspected slavery.
It is just one of the concerns voiced by people who are stepping up to help children they fear may be in crisis.
While reports of suspected slavery to the adult helpline are rare, many more calls are made about childhood neglect and physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
There were more than 600 referrals to the police and social services in Northern Ireland by NSPCC Helpline workers in 2015/16.
The referrals followed calls from concerned adults to the locally-run helpline which is run by trained claim that a child is being bullied, or a query on what age a child is left home alone. Drugs and drink are common issues, either in themselves or as a trigger for other behavioural problems.”
Often the call can be from an adult who has been left in crisis following a trauma earlier in their life.
James explained: “National news or social media can also have a serious knock-on effect on the calls made to us. When Victoria Derbyshire spoke with footballers about their claims they’d been sexually abused by a coach, we received a lot of phone calls.
“I’d say the most memorable call I have received so far was from a man who told me what he’d been through as a young footballer and the trust he put in me to help him half a lifetime later.
“This man was in his 50s and I was only the second person he’d opened up to about his pain.
“At the NSPCC Helpline it’s our job to listen and help and move on to the next person, but things stick in your mind. It is incredibly moving when
people take that decision to pick up the phone and share their fears.
“Action can be taken, risks assessed and fears allayed and it’s fair to say that lives can be saved, futures changed and people protected.
“I think the public knows that Childline is our service for children to access but we also have this brilliant Helpline which adults can rely on.
“Here in Belfast we have six fulltime workers who handle crisis calls, A WOMAN called the number because she was concerned about a neighbour and feared children were at risk.
The woman, who did not want to be named, said: “The family next door had always been noisy. Their mum, Rachel, was a single parent and had three children under five.
“Men would come and go but the children always seemed happy enough so I never worried about them. That was until Rachel got a new boyfriend. He moved in with her and the kids quite quickly, and around that time I started to notice the children looking a bit scruffy.
“They started knocking on my door asking for food. My other neighbours started to worry that Rachel or the new boyfriend was dealing drugs.”
“The youngest always had a dirty nappy, and all of the children were getting really thin.
“I asked to talk anonymously and an advisor said he was going to request a police ‘safe and well’ check.
“The police arrived at the house and left later with the children. I found out afterwards that the house was filthy. The police said they’d found used needles in the living room.
“I’m so glad I called the NSPCC.”
including three social workers, a counsellor, an early years worker and a domestic violence worker so we have a very good mix of knowledge and experience..
“Adults can contact us by phone or reach us online to get advice or share their concerns about a child and some wish to remain anonymous due to their own fears about the situation.
“And in Northern Ireland we’re dealing with issues around paramilitary activity which can create even more worries for the caller.
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