31/05/2019
Child Abuse
Child abuse is any form of physical, emotional or sexual mistreatment, or neglect that leads to the injury or harm of a child. The abuser may be a family member, or someone the child encounters in a residential setting or in the community. An individual may abuse or neglect a child directly, or may be responsible for abuse because they fail to prevent another person harming that child. Approximately 30,000 children in the UK are currently on child protection registers (meaning health and social services consider them to be at risk of significant harm). Parents may worry a great deal about paedophiles and ‘stranger danger’ but it is important to remember that most sexual abuse happens in the family home and is carried out by someone known to the child. The effects of child abuse can be extremely serious and long-lasting. If you are concerned that a child you know is being abused, contact your local social services; the police or the NSPCC.
