Sussex Child Abuse Up Nearly 40% In Three Years

The NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) has revealed a 38% increase in recorded child cruelty and neglect offences in Sussex, over three years.

The charity said 156 concerns of adults neglecting, mistreating or assaulting children were raised in Sussex over the last year.

In 2019/20 there were 23,529 offences recorded by police forces across the UK.

Although there are significant variations between different regions and nations, overall the analysis finds an increase of 53% compared to 2016/17, and more than double the total in 2013/14. 

Sussex Police recorded 156 child cruelty and neglect offences in 2019/20, a 38% increase in three years, compared to 113 offences recorded in 2016/17.

Ciara*, from Brighton, had a chaotic upbringing with a mum who had substance misuse problems and bi-polar, often being left to fend for herself and parent her siblings.

Ciara*, 27, said:

"Christmas has always been pretty bittersweet for me. When I was young and Christmas would be alternated between my dad's and my mum's house each year, I would dread the ones that were at my mum's. 

"There were things like the shouting, the arguments and being filled with dread as soon as I saw mum having a glass of wine. As I got older and started being able to make my own decisions about where I spent Christmas, there was a very heavy guilt that was ever-present when I decided not to be with my mum, and then if I did concede to the guilt and agree to go there for even a small amount of time, there was a heavy dread and fear. 

"I remember feeling quite abandoned when my dad or step-mum would drive away, leaving my sister and I there standing outside our mum's house, as though they had driven us into a warzone and said 'okay, see you later'. 

"Christmas has always been something I half looked forward to and half dreaded, and then it turned into a part of the year that I just wanted to be over.

"I still struggle with feelings of envy and resentment towards friends and my partner who are able to just look forward to spending time with their family and have the same Christmas routine every year. I tend to just want to go somewhere very far away at Christmas so I don't have to face all the heightened emotions and memories."

This NSPCC also examined the number of offences that took place in the first three months of the spring lockdown and found that 51 child cruelty and neglect offences were recorded by Sussex police from 1st April to the 30th June this year.

Although a significant number, senior police have argued that this does not provide the full picture of what children may have experienced during those months.

Nationally there were 5,476 child cruelty and neglect offences.

The NSPCC is warning that children may be at risk of abuse this Christmas and that everyone needs to play their part in keeping young people safe.

The charity has been looking at the impact lockdown has had over the last six months, and is concerned that increased vulnerability, the challenges of safeguarding remotely and wider pressures on families may have increased the risks of abuse and neglect.

During the spring lockdown, an average of 50 children a day turned to Childline after suffering abuse, with counselling sessions about this issue increasing by 22% compared with pre-lockdown levels.

Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC said: 

"The pandemic is the greatest challenge we've faced in decades and these figures are yet another example of its impact on vulnerable children. They also provide a heart-breaking picture of the concern about the number of young people who were exposed to pain and suffering following the start of the pandemic.  

"This year it is even more essential that children have a place where they can seek help and support. Our Childline service will be running every day over the Christmas holidays, but we need the public's support so we can ensure vulnerable children are heard."

The NSPCC is encouraging the public to look out for signs of abuse and speak up if they are concerned about a child. Signs of abuse and neglect to look out for can include:

• Untreated injuries, medical and dental issues
• Repeated accidental injuries caused by lack of supervision
• Recurring illnesses or infections
• Faltering weight or growth, and not reaching developmental milestones
• Poor language, communication or social skills
• Have unwashed clothes
• Have inadequate clothing, like not having a winter coat
• Living in an unsuitable home environment - for example without adequate heating, or dog mess being left
• Left alone for a long time
• Taking on the role of carer for other family members

To raise awareness of child neglect and abuse this Christmas, a number of iconic UK landmarks including Battersea Power Station will turn green from the 7th December, supporting the NSPCC's Here for Children Christmas Appeal.

As part of its new appeal, the charity is calling on the public to donate £20 to the NSPCC so that services like Childline can be here for children this Christmas. 

The charity has also launched a new TV appeal which depicts some of the heart-breaking abuse contacts the NSPCC run service Childline expects to take in the Christmas holidays.