November 27, 2019 10.31 am This story is over 52 months old

Child cruelty crimes treble in Lincolnshire over five years

A worrying rise
Stock image. Photo: Tom Hull

Police are recording three times more child cruelty and neglect crimes in Lincolnshire than five years ago.

A new report from the NSPCC looking at police data from 2013/2014 to 2018/2019 found that on average child cruelty and neglect cases have more than doubled from 9,518 to 20,024 across the UK.

In Lincolnshire, over the same period, the cases have trebled from 22 in 2013/2014 to 63 in 2018/2019.

Among the reports are extreme cases where parents or carers have deliberately neglected, assaulted, abandoned or exposed their child to serious harm and unnecessary suffering.

To raise awareness of child neglect and abuse, the NSPCC has launched its Light For Every Childhood Christmas Appeal and has asked for landmarks around the UK to light up green to raise awareness.

The NSPCC Christmas Appeal is calling for donations so it can be there for children suffering from neglect and abuse at Christmas and all year round.

The charity believes that better police recording, increasing pressure on families and cuts in funding making it harder for local authorities to offer early intervention have all contributed to the rise.

In addition, recorded police offences of this type don’t reveal the full picture of neglect in the UK, because local authorities will step in before many of these cases are reported as a crime.

In 2017/18 there were 29,113 children in the UK on a child protection plan or register for concerns involving neglect.

Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC said: “To see year after year the number of neglect and cruelty offences rise so dramatically is disturbing.

“Whatever the reasons for the rise, cruelty to children is never okay. It is vital that children always have a place they can go to seek help and support.”

Adults concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline seven days a week on 0808 800 5000, or email [email protected]