Neglect offences and child cruelty cases up by more than quarter

Child cruelty and neglect offences recorded in Scotland rose by more than a quarter in the past year.

Police recorded 818 of these offences in 2018-19, up 28% from the 640 the previous year.

These include cases of parents or carers deliberately neglecting, assaulting or abandoning their child or exposing them to serious harm or unnecessary suffering.

Children’s charity NSPCC highlighted the figures after analysing police data which showed there were 20,024 child cruelty and neglect offences across the UK in 2018-19.

The charity believes neglect could be more widespread than the figures suggest, highlighting the 1,044 children in Scotland on a child protection plan or register for concerns involving neglect in 2017-18.

To raise funds to combat child abuse and neglect, the charity is launching its Light For Every Childhood Christmas appeal and plans to light up Glasgow’s SSE Hydro in its trademark green in support.

Matt Forde, national head of service for NSPCC Scotland, said: “Greater public awareness and improvements in police recording could be factors in this increase, but deeper societal issues, such as increasing pressure on parents and a lack of investment in early intervention and support services, are leaving more children vulnerable and exposed to pain and suffering.

“Whatever the reasons for the rise, cruelty to children is never OK and it is vital that they always have a place they can go to seek help and support, day and night.”

Matt Forde of NSPCC Scotland.