Shock Rise In Abuse Of Children In Highlands

INVERNESS’S area police commander is concerned about the number of crimes committed against children after newly-published figures reveal a worrying rise in cases.

The statistics, released by Northern Constabulary yesterday show an increase in incidents of cruelty and indecency towards young people.

The trend emerged in the same week as a government inquiry was announced into the horrific death of a 17-month-old baby in Haringey.

Crimes of violence, including serious assault and cruelty towards children, increased by 43.4 per cent between 1st April and 31st October this year compared with the same period in 2007.

Sexual crimes such as rape and indecent assault rose by 40.2 per cent.

“There have been more assaults that have resulted in hospital treatment — effectively serious assaults — and there have been more offences reported against children,” Chief Inspector Julian Innes said.

“As regards crimes of indecency, a lot of those are young person based.”

He believed more incidents were being reported because people had the confidence to come forward, adding some incidents involving children and rapes may have taken place some time ago.

The figures are set to be reported to the Northern Joint Police Board today.

“In the board papers there are 317 child protection referrals,” the chief inspector said.

“That’s either generated by ourselves where officers are in houses when they see some concern about a child, or from school teachers, postmen, and voluntary agencies working with children who have concerns “That’s really encouraging to me that those people are taking responsibility and sharing their concerns with us.

“That accounts for some of the rise in crime.”

Highland-wide, the number of children on the child protection register, a confidential list of names of children considered to be at a threat from serious harm, has increased by 34 per cent in recent months.

More than 300 children across the region were referred because of concerns for their safety.

Harriet Dempster, Highland Council’s director of social work, said it was working with police and the education department to promote early intervention for any children thought to have been abused.

“It’s a very high-profile subject which is always being looked at,” she said.

“We are undertaking further audits to assure ourselves that children are not falling through the net.”

Anita Elizar, of child welfare charity Children 1st, said it is not enough to rely on child protection agencies and called for everyone to take responsibility for looking out for the safety of children.

“Unfortunately, many children in Scotland are growing up in very vulnerable situations,” she said.

“These figures may be a positive sign that more children suffering from neglect and abuse are being identified and referred to the appropriate agencies for help and protection rather than suffering in silence.”

Cases of housebreaking and thefts, as well as fire-raising and vandalism, also increased over the past seven months. Detection rates for these crimes improved, but dropped overall.

Force-wide the number of crimes fell from 27,244 to 26,883 during the period. The detection rate slipped from 83.1 per cent to 82.4 per cent.