Charity reports child abuse 5 times a week
‘Devastating experience’
CASES of suspected child abuse referred to Scots authorities have soared, a children’s charity has revealed.
NSPCC Scotland said 265 calls to its helpline were passed on to police and social services in 2016/17 – an average of five a week.
This is up from 187 during the previous year – an increase of 42 per cent.
Helpline staff gave advice on spotting the signs of child sexual abuse and tackling the issue in a further 167 calls.
UK-wide, 4,677 referrals were made by the NSPCC to police and other agencies in 2016/17 – once every two hours. This was up from 3,578 the previous year – a rise of 31 per cent.
On another 3,912 occasions across Britain, callers were given advice by specially trained staff on the warning signs. One caller to the helpline said: ‘A young girl in the neighbourhood might be at risk of sexual abuse by men who visit the house.
‘There is lots of drinking that goes on and mum doesn’t seem to be too concerned about leaving her alone with them.
‘Mum can be often heard shouting and swearing at the girl and I don’t think she is fit to care for her.’
The NSPCC said the rise in referrals showed more people were willing to speak up – but warned the full scale of neglect cases could be much greater.
John Cameron, head of helplines at the charity, said: ‘It is deeply worrying that so many children are potentially being exposed to such a devastating experience, but at the same time it also suggests that as a society we are much more alert to the risks and much more willing to come forward and share our concerns.
‘Sexual abuse can do huge damage to a child’s life and left untreated will often haunt them long into adulthood. It is therefore vital that anyone who suspects a young person is in danger contacts the authorities or gets in touch with us.’
It is estimated that one in 20 children in the UK have experienced sexual abuse.
The NSPCC has now called for a nationwide UK Governmentcommissioned study into the prevalence of child abuse and neglect to increase understanding of the scale of the problem.
The charity also highlighted that while abuse includes children being forced or persuaded to take part in sexual activities, not all cases involve physical contact. Sometimes the activity takes place online, for example, through posting explicit images or live streaming.
And a child may not understand that what is happening is abuse or that it is wrong.
Parents and guardians are urged to look for warning signs, such as children avoiding certain family members or friends, as well as physical signs.
The charity has also launched a ‘Light Up Christmas for Children’ appeal to help vulnerable young people.
The campaign involves sending a text message in order to make a small cash donation.
The charity said December can be particularly difficult for vulnerable children as they are often isolated and without the safety net of being at school.
Children can contact Childline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, on 0800 1111 or by visiting www.childline.org.uk.