DHSSPS reveal child protection figures

THE Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety last week published the Children Order Child Protection and Referral Statistics for Quarter ending 30 June 2010. The bulletin is the second reporting of quarterly figures relating to Child Protection in Northern Ireland for the quarter ending 30 June 2010.

Key Facts and Figures showed that at 30 June there were 2,425 children on the Child Protection Register in Northern Ireland, 3% (64) more than quarter ending 31 March 2010 (2,361).

From 31 March 2010 to 30 June 2010, the numbers of children on the Register fell by 9% (20) in the Western Trust and by 1% (6) in the Southern Trust. They rose by 1% (6) in the Belfast Trust, by 7% (48) in the South Eastern Trust and by 10% (36) in the Northern Trust.

At 30 June 2010, just over four in five children (82%) on the Register had no legal status, 10% (254) were Accommodated under Article 21, and 4% (96) were subject to an Interim Care Order (Article 57).

Of the 2,425 children on the Register, 31% (757) were in the South Eastern Trust, 24% (592) were in the Belfast Trust, 19% (459) were in Southern Trust, 17% (408) were in the Northern Trust, and 9% (209) were in the Western Trust.

The rate per 10,000 HSC Trust population of children on the Child Protection Register was highest in the South Eastern Trust (93.4) and lowest in the Western Trust (27.3).