Urgent call to protect children
THE NSPCC is calling for urgent action to protect children at risk of abuse, as shocking new figures reveal 12 infants aged under two are referred to police or social services every day by the charity’s helpline.
Child protection agencies were alerted by the helpline to 22,505 children at risk of neglect and abuse last year – an average of 62 children a day. Some 4,475 were aged two and under.
It follows last week’s conviction of a mother, stepfather and teenage boy for the murder of Logan Mwangi, five, who died in July 2021 following a “brutal and sustained” attack at home, that left him with “catastrophic” injuries. Angharad Williamson, 31, John Cole, 40, and a 14-year-old, who cannot be named, dumped Logan’s body in a river close to his home in Sarn, Bridgend, after they had killed him.
A mother was also convicted of manslaughter last week after her seven-year-old son died alone and “gasping for air” after suffering an asthma attack in Birmingham.
The court heard Laura Heath “prioritised her addiction to heroin and crack cocaine”, leading to the neglect of Hakeem Hussain, who died in November 2017.
Sir Peter Wanlass, the NSPCC’S CEO, said: “This must be the year we make child protection a national priority. The stark figures we’ve released underline the ongoing scale of the issue, and it’s time to act.
“The Government has a unique opportunity this year to transform our overstretched and underfunded child protection system.
“We know the pandemic increased the risk of abuse and neglect and recent tragic cases have rightly led to a public outcry as these innocent children’s lives were brutally cut short.”
Sir Peter said the system could only improve with more Government funding to help prevent abuse. And he said the public also has a part to play in reporting suspicious cases. “It’s everyone’s responsibility,” he said. “Strong communities can keep children safe.”
A spokesman for the Department for Education said: “We have already improved how safeguarding agencies work together locally to protect children at risk of abuse or neglect.
“The National Child Safeguarding Panel is also considering a child cruelty register as part of its recommendations to strengthen the child safeguarding system.”
‘Innocent lives were cut short’