Large Rise In Argyll & Bute Child Neglect Rate

There has been a marked increase in the number of youngsters in Argyll and Bute who have been referred to the Child Protection Service as a result of physical neglect. And the Argyll office of the Scottish Children Reporters Administration has reported a “huge increase” in the overall number of care and protection referrals it has dealt with in the last year, with the recorded rise being higher than any other local authority area.

Figures detailed in the local Child Protection Committee’s annual report show that there were 83 physical neglect cases reported in the district in 2005/2006, compared to just 60 the previous year and only 26 in the year 2000/2001.

Reported cases of children who have suffered physical injury as a result of neglect is up from 35 in 2004/2005 to 66 in 2005/2006.

And sexual abuse cases dealt with by the Child Protection Service have also risen from 16 in 2004/2005 to 30, in the latest annual figures.

Argyll’s overall total statistics, taking in all kinds of child neglect and abuse, including emotional abuse, show a rise from 106 cases in 2000/20001, compared to 130 in 2004/2005 and 187 in 2005/2006.

The Child Protection Committee’s annual report states: “There has been a marked increase in the number of children referred, those subject to a case conference, registered and de-registered.

“The category of registration figures show that physical neglect remains the most common category of registration.”

Within Argyll and Bute the main office for the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) is in Lochgilphead.

A spokesman for the service said: “Referrals to the SCRA continue to rise at an unprecedented level.

“Within Argyll and Bute there has been a huge increase in care and protection referrals throughout the past year.

“It is thought this is attributable to the increasing number of domestic referrals that are now made to the Reporter’s Office and it is hoped the development of inter agency meetings at an early stage, in the coming year, may reduce the number of such referrals.

“It is however, notable that, compared to other authorities, Argyll and Bute has seen the largest increase in these categories of registration.

“The reason for this particular increase is unknown and will continue to be monitored over the coming year.”

The spokesman added: “Emergency referrals to the Reporter have also seen an increase in recent months and add to the pressures facing not only Reporter’s staff but all partner agencies.

“For the coming year SCRA, in conjunction with other partner agencies, will continue to face such demands and, to improve the level and consistency of service offered to children throughout the Argyll and Bute area.”