Charity fears abuse cases will rise

A CHARITY has warned that cuts in early help services for vulnerable children will have “devastating consequences”.

Budgets for social workers who step in to prevent neglect and abuse have dropped by £743million in five years, while spending on children’s centres across England has fallen by £450million.

Imran Hussain, of Action for Children, said the “crippling cuts” meant children were being left to “fend for themselves” until problems “spiral out of control”.