More people contacting the NSPCC with concerns about neglected children

In the last two years the number of calls to the NSPCC’s helpline about child neglect has doubled. Figures published by the NSPCC in its recent report ‘Helpline highlight: More people contacting the NSPCC with concerns about neglected children’ showed that the charity dealt with over 12,000 calls from members of the public about neglect in 2011/12. The NSPCC revealed that calls relating to neglect were at their highest volume ever, and had doubled since 2009/10.

Calls to the helpline included reports of parents with drug addictions, children being left outside in the cold and hungry children begging neighbours for food. The report reveals that over 70% of neglect concerns during 2011/12 reported through the helpline were referred to the police or children’s services. In other cases helpline operators were able to provide advice, support and information to callers.

Dr Ruth Gardner, head of the NSPCC's neglect programme, said:

"More people than ever are contacting the NSPCC about child neglect. Some of this will be down to the public being more willing to speak out - and this can only be a positive thing - but there is clearly a worrying trend, not just in our figures, but from a range of agencies and bodies. More research is needed on why this sharp increase has occurred.”

As part of its response, the NSPCC is undertaking a survey in partnership with Community Care. The survey is available now and the charity is urging professionals working with neglected children to take part.

The NSPCC is also launching a forum on LinkedIn for practitioners, working in both children and adult focused roles, in both the statutory and voluntary sectors, where professionals can discuss topics and issues with workers from different agencies and geographical areas. To find out more email Bridget Burgoyn at the NSPCC on bburgoyn@nspcc.org.uk.