Child domestic abuse calls rocket in UK

CALLS from adults worried about a child’s welfare to the NSPCC’s helpline have jumped by 50% over the course of the pandemic, the charity has said.

The NSPCC has revealed that it is receiving over 30 calls a day from grown-ups worried that a child is living with domestic abuse, up 53% from prepandemic levels.

The charity warned the situation is likely to get worse as lockdown continues, and is calling for the UK Government to make extra provisions for child victims in its Domestic Abuse Bill.

The bill, hailed as a piece of landmark legislation, has had its second reading and is due to begin the committee stage today.

The NSPCC is calling for an amendment that would legally oblige all local authorities to fund community-based recovery services for child victims.

People who experience domestic abuse in childhood can experience difficulty in learning, depression, eating disorders and addiction as they go through adolescence into adulthood.

The charity has expressed fears that, without a statutory obligation, budgets for community-based support could be diverted to fund services such as refuges.