Domestic abuse call to NSPCC every hour

THE NSPCC is receiving a call every hour about children at risk of harm from domestic violence during lockdown, the charity has revealed.

It said reports to its helplines about children caught up in abuse had risen by 32 per cent, from 140 a week before the pandemic to 185 a week during lockdown. More than half of the calls led to the children being referred to local councils or social services for urgent action to protect them.

The charity has also published an analysis of 11 Serious Case Reviews which showed that children had been seriously harmed and even died because domestic abuse was not always considered a child protection issue.

It has submitted its dossier to MPS considering the Government’s new domestic abuse bill. Emily Hilton, NSPCC senior policy and public affairs officer, said: “This crisis has shone a spotlight on children living with domestic abuse. The bill has the chance to transform the help available, but, despite pleas from multiple experts, the Government is deliberately turning a blind eye to the impact it has on children.”

A total of 1,500 adults called

NSPCC’S helpline during the lockdown about the risks to children from domestic abuse, with 58 referred to the local authority. The 800 calls in May were the highest since the method of recording them changed in 2016.

A 14-year-old boy rang the NSPCC’S Childline, saying: “I really need your help; my dad has been physically abusing Mum. He has an anger problem.”

Child abuse concerns have been compounded by the closure of schools, which means teachers, who can act as an early warning system for abuse, are not around to detect it.

Calls to police on domestic violence have not increased, which experts suggest is linked to the fact that many victims may be struggling to report their abuse during lockdown as they are couped up with their attackers 24/7.

Last night one of the most senior judges in England and Wales warned that child protection cases may “surge”.

Sir Andrew Mcfarlane, president of the Family Division, said that there had been a significant increase in domestic abuse injunctions in some inner-city areas. He added: “It is anticipated that, once social services are able to function more normally, and children return to school, the volume of child protection cases may surge.”