Rise in child cruelty and neglect cases

The number of recorded crimes involving child cruelty and neglect has more than doubled in the past five years, figures suggest.

Data from British police forces collated by children’s charity the NSPCC shows that 16,939 child cruelty and neglect offences were recorded in 2017-18, up from 7,965 in 2012-13.

It also received 19,937 calls and emails to its helpline about child neglect last year, with three-quarters being referred on to the police or children’s services.