Record total of children living in fear of abuse

Eleven ‘at risk’ cases a day

RECORD numbers of Scots children have been placed on a register to protect them from abusive parents. Alarming f i gures show that almost 100 children were identified as being ‘at risk’ before they were even born.

Hundreds of toddlers and schoolage youngsters were also added to the child protection list, which grew at the rate of 11 registrations every day in the year to July 2012.

Most of the children face neglect from their uncaring parents, who are often drug or alcohol addicts. Others are potential victims of emotional, physical or sexual abuse.

At the same time, the number of children being looked after by local authorities – including those in foster care – has soared to a high.

Among under-ones, the number of new ‘looked after’ cases – when local authorities have a responsibility to provide support or care – has nearly trebled in nine years.

Last night, a Scottish Government spokesman said authorities were intervening at an earlier age in a bid to improve the youngsters’ lives.

But Matt Forde, head of NSPCC Scotland services, said the number of children at risk could be even higher than official figures show.

‘While we welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to identify children at risk sooner and to intervene earlier where families need support, recent NSPCC research shows a much greater number of children are at risk of abuse than those known to statutory services,’ he said.

As of July 31 last year, 2,706 children were on the risk register, up from 2,571 a year earlier.

But there were 4,155 new registrations in that time, with the overall total changing as children are taken into care, or their home life improves, or they die.

The total number of vulnerable ‘looked after’ children reached 16,248 in 2012, with 4,811 new additions, including 753 under-ones.